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Social Work Services Insurance Policy Information

Social Work Services Insurance Social work service providers deal with complex issues and even more demanding clients. Like most professionals that work with the public, they are susceptible to mistakes, and when these slips happen, lawsuits follow.

Social service organizations provide assistance relating to a specific social issue, or group of related social issues, to their clients. Each organization has a specified purpose relating to counseling, education, financial aid, job placement, rehabilitation, vocational training, or welfare. Some provide food or shelter.

Facilities for offices, retail stores, and warehouses may be owned or leased from others. Most social service agencies are nonprofit and are funded primarily through donations and fundraising activities. Some have permanent profit-making operations to fund the organizations as a whole, such as retail stores or recycling centers. A large portion of labor may be voluntary.

As a social work provider, these lawsuits will target you and not just your employees. This is why you must invest in social work services insurance that will protect your organization against these claims. No matter how small your risk exposure, getting coverage is a good idea if you want to be careful.

Social work services insurance protects your organization from lawsuits with rates as low as $27/mo. Get a fast quote and your certificate of insurance now.

Below are some answers to commonly asked social work services insurance questions:

• What Is Social Work Services Insurance?
• How Much Does Social Work Services Insurance Cost??
• What Type Of Insurance Social Workers Need?
• What Legal Liabilities Do Social Workers Face?
• What Does Social Work Services Insurance Cover & Pay For?

Social Service Organization's Risks & Exposures

Premises liability exposure is moderate at offices, donation locations, processing locations, warehouses, retail locations, or residential facilities due to the number of visitors. Donation locations must be easily accessible for convenient drop-off, with security to prevent unauthorized access while the premises is closed.

Retail stores have frequent visitors who can be injured by slips and falls. Aisles must be adequate and free of debris with flooring in good condition, no frayed or worn spots on carpet, and no cracks or holes in flooring. Steps and uneven floor surfaces should be prominently marked. Sufficient exits must be provided and be well marked with backup lighting systems in case of power failure. Heavier items such as appliances should be kept on easily-reached shelves so that customers do not pull items down on themselves.

Crowd control may be a concern if the store offers special cut-rate sales during peak seasons. Residential facilities must be equipped with hard-wired smoke detectors in each unit. Safety and security of each client is critical. As with the retail operations, flooring must be in good condition, and sufficient exits provided with backup lighting in the case of emergency. Parking lots and sidewalks need to be in good repair with snow and ice removed, and generally level and free of exposure to slips and falls. There should be appropriate security for the area.

If the business is open after dark, lighting must be adequate. If the organization responds to emergencies, exposures can be high at disaster sites due to emergency operations where volunteers are brought together to aid in recovery. Shelters may be set up in remote locations without adequate utility services. The shelter must be secure for those in its care. Because the public is being served, life safety concerns are critical.

If there are camps or other children's activities, instructors must be trained in appropriate methods of caring for the safety of the children. If janitorial services or other operations are performed off-premises, property damage may result to customers' property.

Professional liability exposure could be extensive depending on services provided. The assistance to at-risk individuals may include evaluations by psychologists and psychiatrists. The most serious situations will relate to children, criminal offenders and alcohol/drug rehabilitation counselors. Physical and occupational therapists may be on staff to assist in the development of clients' job-related motor skills.

Personal injury exposures include violating the privacy of clients, libel and slander, wrongful eviction, of invasion of the right of private occupancy of a living unit.

Abuse and molestation exposure is very high due to the supervision of children and other at-risk individuals. No coverage is available for the abuser. While there is some coverage available in the standard market for the institution where the abuse takes place, it is very restricted. More complete coverage should be purchased for the institution through specialized markets.

The institution must take all care possible to protect clients from predatory employees and volunteers through criminal background checks, training, monitoring, and supervision, and report all allegations of abuse to the proper authorities. Shelters must be monitored to prevent incidents of client-on-client abuse.

Directors' and officers' exposure can be substantial. There should be published policies and procedures that are consistently followed, especially as they relate to membership, membership revocation, the election of officers, and removal of officers.

Products exposure can be high if the organization restores and repairs donated items. Because extensive modification may take place, the organization could be considered the manufacturer of an item that causes damage.

Workers compensation exposure may include clerical employees who may develop repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, warehouse and retail store workers who can slip and fall or incur back injuries from lifting, and custodians who can develop respiratory ailments or contact dermatitis from working with chemicals to maintain the premises. Shelter house workers must be able to handle unruly individuals and may be exposed to contagious disease from clients.

Because the primary goal of the organization is to help clients become self-sufficient, all such training must be well documented. There is a special concern with working with the disabled because of the potential for making an already difficult physical situation worse. Workers must be supplied with appropriate safety gear and be adequately supervised based on the type of job and the level of disability.

Instruction in proper lifting techniques must be provided, along with appropriate equipment for the situation. Handling donations may include exposure to hazardous substances, insects or vermin, or communicable diseases. Equipment used for repair operations should be appropriately maintained to prevent injury. In any retail business, hold-ups may occur. Employees should be trained to respond in a prescribed manner.

Property exposures can include offices, donation centers, processing centers, retail stores, warehouses, or residential facilities. Ignition sources include electrical wiring, heating, and air conditioning systems. Operations may be in older buildings. All heating and electrical wiring should be up to date and meet current codes for the occupancy. Some provide housing for clients who are monitored and receive various forms of assistance. Rules and guidelines must be in place and enforced since many of the clients may not be accustomed to caring for themselves, personal property, or the property of others.

All residential units should have hard-wired smoke detectors. Warehouse storage should have proper shelving, wide aisle-ways and separation of flammables from combustibles. Cleaning and mending clothing can produce dust which adds to fire loads. Restoration of furniture will include flammable liquids such as adhesives, paint, and varnish. Work on donated automobiles may involve the use of grinding, spray painting or welding. These must be conducted away from combustibles.

If food services are provided, there should be controls such as automatic shut-off devices and temperature controls in place and maintained. Valuation of the donated items at the time of loss could be a concern and should be considered when coverage is written. Donation centers may be targets for thieves or vandals. Adequate security should be in place after hours to deter pilferage or dumping.

Crime exposure comes from employee dishonesty and theft of money and securities from cash drawers at retail stores. Background checks should be conducted on all employees and volunteers handling money. Employee dishonesty coverage should be expanded to include volunteers as employees. Money should be regularly collected and moved away from the collection area, preferably to a safe on premises.

Bank drops should be made throughout the day to prevent a buildup of cash on premises. There must be a separation of duties between persons handling deposits and disbursements and reconciling bank statements. Audits should be periodically conducted, preferably by an outside firm.

Inland marine exposure includes accounts receivable for donor lists, work done for business partners, and government services provided, computers for office work and job training, and valuable papers and records for donors' records, employment records, and documentation for government and private grants. All records must be duplicated and kept off site for easy restoration in the event of a loss. Goods in transit coverage will be needed if the organization transports donated goods to processing facilities and retail stores or takes supplies to emergency sites.

Business auto exposure may be limited to hired and nonownership for employees or volunteers running errands. If there are owned vehicles used to collect donations, take items to warehouses, or transport clients, the exposure increases. All drivers must have a license appropriate for the vehicle being driven and acceptable MVRs. All vehicles must be maintained, and records of the maintenance must be kept at a central location.

What Does Social Work Services Insurance Cover & Pay For?

Social work services can be sued for a variety of reasons, including professional negligence, breach of confidentiality, malpractice, and wrongful acts. Insurance policies can help protect social work services by providing financial coverage in the event of a lawsuit. Here are some examples:

Professional negligence: If a social worker fails to provide the appropriate standard of care to a client, they may be sued for professional negligence. Professional liability insurance, also known as errors and omissions (E&O) insurance, can help cover the legal defense costs and any resulting settlements or judgments.

Breach of confidentiality: A social worker may be sued if they disclose confidential information without proper consent, violating the client's trust and privacy. E&O insurance can also help cover legal defense costs and any settlements or judgments resulting from a breach of confidentiality lawsuit.

Malpractice: Social workers may be sued for malpractice if their actions or omissions result in harm to a client. For example, if a social worker fails to report child abuse, they could be held liable for any subsequent harm to the child. Malpractice insurance can help cover the costs of legal defense and any settlements or judgments resulting from a malpractice lawsuit.

Wrongful acts: Social work services may be sued for wrongful acts such as discrimination, harassment, or wrongful termination. Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) can help cover legal defense costs and any settlements or judgments resulting from lawsuits related to wrongful acts in the workplace.

General liability: Social work services can be sued for injuries or property damage that occur on their premises, such as slip-and-fall accidents. General liability insurance can help cover the costs of legal defense, medical expenses, and any settlements or judgments resulting from these types of lawsuits.

By obtaining the appropriate insurance policies, social work services can protect themselves from the financial risks associated with lawsuits, ensuring they can continue to provide essential services to their clients.

Commercial Insurance And Business Industry Classification

• SIC CODE: 8322 Individual and Family Services
• NAICS CODE: 624110 Child and Youth Services, 624120 Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities, 624190 Other Individual and Family Services, 624210 Community Food Services, 624221 Temporary Shelters, 624229 Other Community Housing Services, 624230 Emergency and Other Relief Services, 624310 Vocational Rehabilitation Services
• Suggested Workers Compensation Code(s): 8864 Social Services Organization - All Employees & Salespersons, Drivers, 8868 School - Professional Employees & Clerical

8322: Individual and Family Services

Division I: Services | Major Group 83: Social Services | Industry Group 832: Individual And Family Social Services

8322 Individual and Family Services: Establishments primarily engaged in providing one or more of a wide variety of individual and family social, counseling, welfare, or referral services, including refugee, disaster, and temporary relief services. This industry includes offices of specialists providing counseling, referral, and other social services. Government offices directly concerned with the delivery of social services to individuals and families, such as issuing of welfare aid, rent supplements, food stamps, and eligibility casework, are included here, but central office administration of these programs is classified in Public Administration, Industry 9441. Social Security offices are also classified in Public Administration, Industry 9441. Establishments primarily engaged in providing vocational rehabilitation or counseling are classified in Industry 8331; and fraternal, civic, and social associations are classified in Industry 8641.

• Activity centers, elderly or handicapped
• Adoption services
• Adult day care centers
• Aid to families with dependent children(AFDC)
• Alcoholism counseling, nonresidential:except medical treatment
• Centers for senior citizens
• Child guidance agencies
• Community centers
• Counseling centers
• Crisis centers
• Crisis intervention centers
• Day care centers, adult and handicapped
• Disaster services
• Emergency shelters
• Family counseling services
• Family location services
• Family service agencies
• Helping hand services
• Homemaker's service, primarily nonmedical
• Hotlines
• Marriage counseling services
• Meal delivery programs
• Multiservice centers, neighborhood
• Neighborhood centers
• Offender rehabilitation agencies
• Offender self-help agencies
• Old age assistance
• Outreach programs
• Parole offices
• Probation offices
• Public welfare centers, offices of
• Referral services for personal and social problems
• Refugee services
• Relief services, temporary
• Self-help organizations for alcoholics and gamblers
• Senior citizens associations
• Service leagues
• Settlement houses
• Social service centers
• Telephone counseling service
• Traveler's aid centers
• Youth centers
• Youth self-help organizations

Social Work Services Insurance - The Bottom Line

Social work is a fulfilling career that requires personal commitment. However, helping others can expose you to unexpected risks. As a social work service provider or worker, you need professional liability coverage to mitigate these risks.

Additional Resources For Non-Profit Insurance

Find useful articles on business insurance for non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, charities and associations.

• Animal Shelter & Pet Rescue
• Charity
• Church
• Classic & Collector Car Clubs
• Fraternal Organization
• Goodwill Insustries
• Labor Union
• Libraries
• Nonprofit
• Parent Teacher Organization
• Public Administration
• Red Cross Chapters
• Salvation Army
• Social Work Services
• Veterans Groups
• Volunteers of America
• YMCA
• Youth Groups
• YWCA
• Specialty Community Service Organizations
• Specialty Nonprofit Agencies

The non-profit industry is an essential sector of society that plays a crucial role in addressing social issues, providing vital services, and promoting community development. Non-profits rely on donations, grants, and volunteer work to fund their operations, and any financial loss or liability can significantly impact their ability to serve their mission.

Insurance can protect non-profits from unexpected financial losses, accidents, and legal liabilities that can arise from their operations. For example, a non-profit organization may need insurance to cover damages to their property, injuries to volunteers or employees, or legal costs associated with lawsuits.

Non-profits also face unique risks such as loss of donations, damage to reputation, and loss of funding. Business insurance can help mitigate these risks by providing coverage for financial losses, reputational damage, and other non-tangible losses.

In addition, non-profits often work with vulnerable populations, such as children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities. Insurance can protect non-profits from liabilities arising from the care and services they provide to these populations.

Overall, commercial insurance is an essential component of risk management for non-profit organizations. It helps protect the organization's financial stability, reputation, and ability to fulfill its mission and serve its community.

Minimum recommended small business insurance coverage: Building, Business Personal Property, Business Income and Extra Expense, Employee Dishonesty, Money and Securities, Computers, Valuable Papers and Records, General Liability, Directors and Officers Liability, Employee Benefits, Professional, Umbrella, Hired and Non-owned Auto & Workers Compensation.

Other commercial insurance policies to consider: Earthquake, Equipment Breakdown, Flood, Computer Fraud, Forgery, Fine Arts, Musical Instruments, Commercial Articles Floater, Computers, Cyber Liability, Employment-related Practices, Business Auto Liability and Physical Damage and Stop Gap Liability.