Insurance Advice Needed!

[parijatha]

[sm=scratchchin.gif]
Please can anyone advise on what type of insurance cover we need to massage from home also if anyone can recommend any companies??
Thanks
[sm=wave.gif]

 

[lonely_in_weidman]

Hi there,

I went to Professional Beauty Direct (search in Google) and got insurance for £44.50 with £2 million cover. FHT do £3 million - but it was more expensive and I'm just starting out.

Hope this helps

FB

 

[Frantastic]

I'm with International Guild of Professional Practitioners: IGPP. Check their website out. A year's insurance is around £95. You would need the same insurance if you work from home or in a salon etc..
Hope this is helpful. I know there's another big insurance company but everyone I know and qualified with went with IGPP..

Riikka

 

[JisteSeptwita]

..When with IGPP they put pressure on you to take further professional courses which is good. They list a lot of them on their website and you kind of have to get a certain number of points every year as a member by taking these extra courses, which tend to be one-day-things..

Riikka

 

[Priestess]

Hiya
I used to be with the IGPP but they didnt insure for one of my treatments so had to go elsewhere.....Since they have merged i have really gone off them......
lots of work and fees but for not a lot at the end of the day...
T
x

 

[MoirmVork]

Just wanted to say that the insurance isn't £95 - that also includes membership. The insurance is about £35-£40.

I agree about the push for further courses. Whilst I understand that they don't want people who qualify to do nothing for 10 years and then decide to practice, it can be very expensive to stay on their register by gaining the required 10 credits per year.

I only work part time, and as much as I would love to do more and more courses, the cost of some of them alone is prohibitive! I also have 3 children and a husband who works shifts, so just finding the time is difficult!

It is not imperative to stay on their register, I suppose, just desirable if working from a clinic.

Any thoughts?

Kpuk

 

[grannysan]

Also just to point out that if you work from home, you will need to advise your Home Insurance people! (probably put that premium up too!)

Also your local council may want to come and do an inspection, and it could effect your council tax etc!

 

[GymnastBaby.]

Hi again, I just checked out the Professional Beauty Direct pages and sent them an enquiry about the membership fee. If it's a lot less than with IGPP then I might change..
See, I shifted to IGPP from ITEC and never had to do the credit courses, but now since it'll be my second year with IGPP I WILL have to collect the 10 credits and yes as someone mentioned it can be hard financially and with kids. The oneday courses are quite pricey in the end..
What it comes to working from home I've never happened to mention it, don't have a homeinsurance either which would have to be topped up..

Riikka

 

[mestAlessebip]

My insurance is with H & L Balen through a Block Scheme organised by my college. Contact details on their website: http://www.balen.co.uk/

They are a fantastic firm, always been very helpful and informative when I have called. In fact I think a lot of the organisations have their insurance schemes with Balen on discounted block scheme rates.

When looking for insurance or to work from home you must ensure it has Professional Indemnity to cover you against any legal action taken against you as a result of your work or products. And it must also provide Public Liability Insurance, for example if a client was to trip and hurt themselves on the premesis this will protect you.

As mentioned you will have to inform you Home Insurers too, and the local council, probably the Environmental Health or Consumer Protection Division. In most cases they will perform an inspection to grant you a licence to practice, be aware that a lot of these inspections will have certain conditions that have to be met. You should be able to get this info before having the inspection, but it could include such things as having wipe clean surfaces (walls and floors).

You don't say where you are, but if you are in London you should also be aware of the London Local Authority Act 1991 - Special Treatments Premises. This is to ensure that the premesis comply with Health and Safety legislation and allows for the premesis to be registered as a bona fide Massage Therapy establishment. If you are in London contact the Special Treatment Licences Section of your local authority and they will be able to help.

This all sounds very scary, and I myself am currently going through the process of talking to the Council about these matters.

Good luck!

Love and hugs
Foz xx
)

 

[Kapriestric]

When I got my diploma I started to work as a mobile therapist. Thus I obviously work in many different places, including my own house. And I've never been told by my teacher or anyone else that I definately should get all these things sorted what fozzyo has mentioned here.. Whats going on..? Because I have a busy family and other career etc you know I've never really personally looked into this. Just followed the flow, everyone did the same thing and to my knowledge they(my course colleagues) have no other legalities going on apart from their insurance..

Riikka

 

[Oyeskidivovke]

i agree, tigerbee, lots of money for not alot. if you have the qualification, then thats your *badge*, being on a register doesnt really mean that much to the general public.

kpuk, you cant get the insurance from IGPP without being a member, so even though its only £30 - £40, you still got to pay the £95... but then you do get a quarterly newsletter, car stickers, badges... ooo goody! <smirk>

as for *making* you do further courses, yes, if you want to but no one should HAVE to... unless they are free or much cheaper... its all money for old rope, if you ask me! i do the courses and further training i want to, not to please some organisation making even more money out of me.

 

[HerHuggyBunny]

I am just setting myself up in my own practice and got all of that information from the book "Setting Up And Running A Complementary Health Practice" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1857039238/). In my training we covered off that we should be insured and thats about it. Setting up a practice, be it mobile or home based is something I think most people learn about while they are doing it.

As of yet I have not joined any professional organisations and was interested to read your comments TigerBee and Ro§ie. I already have an insurance scheme I am happy with so don't need to do it for that, not to sure about the CPD requirement - i'll train as and when I feel I need it and I don't want to be limited to specific courses because I need my credits. The only other benefit I can see is for marketing. Some prospective clients may like the fact that you belong to a professional body, and if you advertise in something like Yellow Pages your ad would stand out more in an IGPP box add rather then a tiny little two lines that cost the same.

Love n Hugs
Foz xx
)

 

[FrEe BiRd]

We were just advised at college that it was wise to join some form of professional body - not only for the kudos, but as they were there for help, advise, etc etc. Some of us joiined ITEC (who became IGPP) and some joined another, whi I cant remember at the moment!!

I have to say it did help when looking for work that I held certificates showing not only my Diploma, but my membership and registration certificate from a professional body. It also mens of course that you can have the letters after your name, MIGPP, which nobody understands, but looks good!!! LOL!

I suppose if you are working from home, it is not so relevant. We did cover all the insurance, health and safety etc issues as mentioned by fozzyo, maybe because I did my ITEC course in London?

Definitely look into insurance for home tho, as we were told, if someone trips over a carpet in their home, it is tough luck, if they do it whilst in your home, they can sue!!

Good luck with the minefield!

 

[maruu]

Hiya
YOu dont have to pay for a course to get the CPD you can go along to the group meetings and get them that way.....the IGPP were very careful how they worded there efforts saying that people may be refused membership.....obviously if nobody does them then they would have no members and no money...oh dear!

I have been a member for the last two years but have not renewed this year...they got my information wrong, corrected it and then promptly got it wrong again....after several emails no reply....I have never had the need to phone them up cant see why I would personally....nobody has ever been bothered about my IGPP certificate but do look at the others.....I never wear my badge.

Even if working in a clinic it is your qualifications, your ability to do the job well and your hygiene that is important not what org. you belong to....when they were much smaller they were reasonably good but now....well they are not for me and quite frankly i can think of much better ways to spend my money...

T
x

 

[Danielle P]

Hello

I'm insurred with babatc who are well known within the beauty inducstry.

They are very good and include you in free promotions if you want to be in them the most recent ones were the daily mail and hovis bread where clients collect vouchers and can redeem them in selected salons of their choice listed by babtac. I gained a few new clients through this!!! You pay a one off memeber ship fee and then yearly insurance fees.

Telephone them the membership line is 08450659000 If you need it!!

Love angelic xxxxx

 

[some girl]

that sounds like something useful they are doing, angelic. we can all do with being promoted!

 

[Amy knows how to live.,]

I am surprised no one has mentioned FHT. I joined with them this year as its the first time I applied for insurance. I thought I'd join with them so I could get all the info and literature to know about things. I'll see if I like what they send out else I'll join someone else next year but again you have to become a member with them to be insured and I paid around £90 for both together.

 

[Superb :)]

Blimey - thanks for all your input guys!!!! Wow, I'll have to spend a bit of time reading thru this carefully.... but the working from home thing would just be friends/aquaintences and family - so wouldn't be random punters!! Do you think this would make any difference to licences or public liability ins.???
Hmmmm[sm=scratchchin.gif]

 

[Natbfunky]

If you are qualified and charging people then you need insurance, SMG insurance do a professional indemnity all risks policy, http://www.smg-professional-risks.co.uk/

 

[utegtundiuhiqeeim]

Hiya
Yes Babtac are good but you cannot be a member without getting there insurance and unfortunately for me they do not cover for pregnancy massage but the promo's are good.

Was recently in the hovis/daily mail one and got a couple of clients....

T
x