liability insurance for volunteers

[Jimjams]

I've posted this on the SN section but could do with a wider audience. I'm dreading the summer (see SN section for why). Decided to try and get some SALT and OT students in to help as volunteers. Excellent work experience for them- they could have helped with my son's programme, and a bit of a break for me.

The local SALT college won't let their student's come and work with us as volunteers because of lack of employers liability insurance (FFS!) No wonder they come out of college knowing bugger all. A chance to see PECS up and runningin a home, choice boards, visual timetables, learn about autism, get practical hands on experience with an autistic child- and see that their stupid communication programmes don't work etc etc, but no they may trip down the stairs and twist their ankle so no work experience for them.

They suggested going to to some volunteers bureau that they had vaguely heard of (but couldn't tell me the name etc). However the point is I don't want someone to come and stare at my son whilst I sit down and read a newspaper I want him to get something out of it as well-so SALT students would have been ideal.

Anyone know any way round this? I suspect not, and think I'll just get on with it myself, unless I can get SS to cough up in the next 3 weeks (which is never going to happen).

JimJams, it's so frustrating, I work in the charity sector and if we followed every single rule and regulation that I'm sure a H&S person would tell us we should, then we would simply have to shut up shop, because we would not be able to function.

Have you thought of simply putting a notice up in the college explaining the opportunity? As far as I know, you are allowed to, and if someone did get in touch with you, it would be a private arrangement between the two of you, not under the auspices of the college, so you could make your own, realistic arrangements. You might not get anyone coming forward, but it might be worth a try.

If you live in or near a big town, there should be a Volunteer Bureau in that town and it might be worth talking to them. (They should have a website.) Some VB's are also quite bureacratic though.

That's what I wanted to do meanbean- I sent them the notice to go up on a student noticeboard, but they won't put it up in case they get sued (have no idea how they could possibly be sued!)

jimjams - is there anywhere other than the college that SALT students are likely to hang out where you could put up a notice? only other thought is could you look into the cost of obtaining some form of appropriate employers' liability/public liability insurance yourself, if that would satisfy the college.

I've just had a quick Google and it looks like the situation is that you need ELI for unpaid student volunteers. It's sounds a bit too simple but would paying them a small amount mean that they were no longer classed as unpaid?? Personal injury is usually covered with ordinary household insurance anyway. Any use to you?

Would I need ELI for unpaid granny volunteers? I just find the whole situation ridiculous- that someone cannot come into my VOLUNTARILY ie so they can leave any time they like - and play with my son. I'm not asking tghem to climb scaffolding I still don't understand how the college could end up getting sued in a private arrangement between me and a student who has read a notice on a student noticeboard.

TBH I think I'd rather just give up. I thought I may not get anyone- but didn't envisage this. trying to find someone to help me either via SS or by myself is just proving too much hassle. Surely if I pay them I then become liable somehow or other? Not that I have taken out ELI for his ABA tutor (although I guess officially she is self-empolyed).

From what I could see, generally you wouldn't need ELI for volunteers. Unpaid students seem to be one of the few exceptions to the rule.

The general guidelines were that you don't need ELI if the person is self-employed, if they can choose whether or not to turn up, if you don't pay tax and NI for them etc. There was a table somewhere which listed when you do and don't need it. I'll see if I can find it again.

I can't do links but if you go to
www.clearlybusiness.com

and click on Health & Safety there's a specific section asking "Do I need Liability Insurance?" It's all in there.

But in that case wouldn't it be an unpaid student who was going on something organised by the college, rather than an upaid student entering a private arrangement following an ad on a noticeboard?

sorry CT- I know you're not an expert on this I doubt I'll get the college to change their mind anyway. Ah well I think I am destined to stay in for 6 weeks this summer!

The whole system is just completely mad! You're missing out on the help you need and the students are missing out on some fantastic work experience - all because someone might stub their toe!

I wonder if they count as students during the long summer break? In my first year at college you didn't - but I bet you do now (it meant that if you applied for free prescriptions in the first week of the summer before you started your holiday job, and after your grant had officially run out you would get them).

I know that when I used to do summer work in the long holiday we paid the same level of tax as if we were students.

What about students who have just qualified and might want some work experience to add to their CV's or even just for their own benefit? You probably wouldn't get the same people for the whole of the holidays but it would be a good start.

I could try and get psychology students from the local uni-(the SALT students are at a different college). I know someone who sits right next to the noticeboard. Will chat to dh tonight and email her direct maybe.

Bloody red tape!

Good idea about the one's who have just qualified, but I have no idea where I would get them from. I wonder if there's some SALT bulletin board on the net? Will google!

beetroot we're broke- and I mean broke- if I had the cash we'd just pay someone. I don't really want to pay for insurance if we might not even get anyone.

Also to be honest this whole trying to organise something for the summer is proving to be a bigger nightmare than the actual summer itself. I think I'll just do a Davros (shit bricks) and get through it myself. It's got be less hassle than this.

I know I know but its another set of phone calls and to be honest I just haven't got the energy. I have a stack of stuff I should be chasing up, a loads of pecs cards I should be making, a photograph system thing I should be setting up so we can move onto "i see..." and I just haven't got the energy to add something else to the list. I know its pathetic and I know it seems minor but all the admin crap and chasing that goes will disability is completely drowning me at the moent- and I think I would actually feel considerably better if I gave up on trying to get something done for the summer. There doesn't seem to be much point when its causing me more stress than the summer itself probably will.

Had a beautiful letter from my MP this morning (about the SALT/statement crap) she's added her ugly mug to the corner of the letter- looks very bizarre.