Have you checked whether they’re covered?
Many GP dental and Veterinary practices are keen to offer work experience placements to students who are exploring careers in healthcare. Providing these opportunities is a valuable way to help young people gain insight into how a practice operates, develop practical workplace skills, and inspire the next generation of clinicians and support staff.
One of the most common questions we receive is:
“Are work experience students covered under our existing insurance, particularly Employers’ Liability?”
The good news is yes work experience students are covered under your Employers’ Liability policy, provided the activities they carry out are clerical or office‑based.
How Does the Policy Define an Employee?
Under the Employers’ Liability wording, an “employee” includes:
“Any person working for you in connection with your business who is under a contract of service or apprenticeship, a self‑employed person, a person hired to or borrowed by you, a voluntary helper or a person participating in a work experience or similar scheme.”
This definition makes it clear that volunteers and work experience students are automatically included when they are carrying out appropriate duties.
What Activities Are Covered?
Work experience students are covered when undertaking:
- Clerical tasks
- Reception or administrative support
- Filing, scanning, or other non‑clinical duties
- General office-based activities
As long as the tasks remain within this clerical scope, your existing policy provides full Employers’ Liability protection.
Why This Matters for Practices
Offering work experience placements is an excellent way to:
- Support young people considering a future in healthcare
- Build links within the local community
- Encourage future recruitment into the profession
- Provide real-world experience in a supportive environment
And importantly, you can do all of this knowing that your insurance arrangements already provide the necessary protection.
