Important note about NCMA Insurance

[Helliewelly]

I haven't been on this site long, so forgive me if I'm telling everyone what they already know...

I expect we all complete our accident and incident paperwork when children injure themselves in anyway, but are you aware that you MUST contact the NCMA to inform them. You will then be sent paperwork to complete which is kept on file until the child is well into their 20's in case a claim is made.

If you do not notify them you may find that your insurance cover will not be honoured.

I have found that many childminders in my area are not aware of this.

Don't get caught out!

[Pauline]

I haven't been on this site long, so forgive me if I'm telling everyone what they already know...

I expect we all complete our accident and incident paperwork when children injure themselves in anyway, but are you aware that you MUST contact the NCMA to inform them. You will then be sent paperwork to complete which is kept on file until the child is well into their 20's in case a claim is made.

If you do not notify them you may find that your insurance cover will not be honoured.

I have found that many childminders in my area are not aware of this.

Don't get caught out!

Even if we do know something, there is nothing wrong with a reminder! :)

I know you do have to inform your insurance if it involves a child going to hospital (this applies to Morton Michel too), you also have to inform Ofsted.

but are you saying you have to inform them for every form you fill out? Even for minor accidents?

[Pipsqueak]

Can you explain a bit more please?

I was aware that if a child has a serious accident/injury - serious being deemed a trip/treatment to hospital (or death) that we had to inform Ofsted and Riddor (had to follow this procedure recently).
I was aware that we had to notify EV for food poisoning (2 chilren or more) and infectious diseases etc.

But I have not heard that we have to inform NCMA of anything and when the accident happened with one of my mindees a friend of mine who is an NCMA employee and well up on H&S never mentioned that I have to inform NCMA (perhaps she wasn't aware?).

[caz3007]

I can understand for large accidents requiring medical treatment, but are we expected to inform them of every bump and cut that occurs whilst in our care.

I dont have a lot of incidents and the children I mind at the moment arent too accident prone, but have had ones in the past that mum has to sign nearly every week

[Mouse]

I've just looked in my NCMA Accident/Incident folder and there is a note that says:

If an accident occurs, if you have an NCMA public liability insurance policy you must complete an accident/incident report form, available from NCMA on (telephone number). This is necessary should a claim be made against you at a later date. The form should be completed & returned to NCMA. You may wish to keep a copy for your records. The total life of the policy is 21yrs & 4 months. This is to enable the child to make a claim against the policy at a later date.


Doesn't really make it any clearer does it?

[jellytot]

from the sounds of that it seems each time we fill in accident form we then send it to ncma. surely thats a bit much, I knew we had to keep them for 21yrs but to send it off each time I fill on in. Suppose it saves us keeping the paperwork all that time if they are keeping a record of it.

[christine e]

This is an extract from NCMAs PL insurance fact sheet - should clarify

Reporting accidents
If a child in your care has an accident, it must be reported to NCMA immediately if
attention by a medical professional has been sought or if it may result in a claim
(regardless of whether a claim is currently being made against you). NCMA’s public
liability insurance covers members against accidents and incidents to the children in
their care, but if a child has an accident it may not be until much later that the child or
family make their legal claim. This means if a child or family made a claim against
you during this period you would be covered, providing you held NCMA public liability
insurance at the time of the accident and you had reported it to NCMA and Royal &
Sun Alliance Insurance plc (RSA), the company which provides NCMA’s insurance
policy. Of course, children have minor accidents all the time and members have
asked what type of accidents and incidents should be reported to NCMA and RSA.
X
Public liability insurance
NCMA insurance factsheet 1
www.************* Page 7 of 14 Last updated: 11/09
RSA has provided the following guidelines on when a claim form should be
completed:
• A childminder should continue to log any “injury” to a childminded child in their
accident book for signature (and comments if wished) by the parent at the end of
the same day. If there is no adverse reaction from the parent to the incident then
the incident need not be notified to NCMA, but RSA would expect the accident
book to be retained by the childminder for future reference if needed. Insurers
would require the accident records to be kept indefinitely (a claim could be made
up to three years after a minor reaches the age of consent or longer depending
on the extent of the injury).
This action would not invalidate the policy.
• All other serious accidents or incidents which clearly might result in an insurance
claim, e.g. an accident involving a doctor or hospital visit, must be notified
immediately to NCMA who will log and acknowledge receipt of your
correspondence and forward your information to RSA.
• If there are any other incidents that you are unclear about then these too should
be notified immediately to NCMA who will log and acknowledge receipt of your
correspondence and forward your information to RSA.
If you do have a serious accident or incident, you can request a report form by calling
NCMA’s head office or emailing insurance@************* .Once NCMA has received
your report, it will be logged with both NCMA and RSA, who will send you an
acknowledgement, including a claim reference number issued by the insurer.
Renewing your insurance policy
Your public liability insurance runs concurrently with your NCMA membership
renewal date. When the time comes to renew your policy, we will send you a renewal

[Carpet Monkeys]

I've just looked in my NCMA Accident/Incident folder and there is a note that says:

If an accident occurs, if you have an NCMA public liability insurance policy you must complete an accident/incident report form, available from NCMA on (telephone number). This is necessary should a claim be made against you at a later date. The form should be completed & returned to NCMA. You may wish to keep a copy for your records. The total life of the policy is 21yrs & 4 months. This is to enable the child to make a claim against the policy at a later date.


Doesn't really make it any clearer does it?

I wouldn't want to be the one working in the logging and filing department at the NCMA for this part of the job, especially if it's for every bump and graze :o

Watching this with interest!

[green puppy]

Thanks for that Christine e, makes it clearer.

[Mouse]

Thanks Christine.

I suppose if you're ever in doubt as to whether or not an accident should be reported, it only takes a phone call to ask.

[christine e]

Thanks Christine.

I suppose if you're ever in doubt as to whether or not an accident should be reported, it only takes a phone call to ask.

Yep that's right but for everyday bumps and bruises that are not cause for concern no need to report

Cx