Cura Financial Services is a specialist protection broker.

Openwork has added Cura to its network to enable its advisers to help clients with specialist protection needs.

Paul Shearman, proposition director, mortgages and protection, at The Openwork Partnership, said access to Cura will help the network’s advisers support more clients and enable them to get the insurance they need.

Cura has a specialism in helping clients whose situation can make it difficult for them to secure life, critical illness or income protection insurance.

Alan Knowles, managing director of Cura, said: “It’s disappointing for both advisers and clients when protection can’t be offered due to a health condition, occupational risk or travel disclosures.

“The Openwork Partnership advisers now have a greater opportunity to be able to place clients who previously would have been declined. We’re absolutely delighted to be working with The Openwork Partnership and look forward to helping to protect more clients.”

The broker has a network of specialist insurers and can offer some form of cover to the majority of clients, including those with high-risk occupations, extensive travel to foreign countries, pre-existing health conditions or hazardous pastimes.

Clients include those with a history of cancer, heart attack, strokes, mental health issues and HIV as well as clients in the Armed Forces, working offshore, at heights or under water. They have also found cover for people travelling to higher risk destinations such as Iraq, Angola and Iran and clients with risky hobbies such as rock climbing, scuba diving, motor car racing and transatlantic sailing.

The Openwork Partnership currently has over 4,300 financial advisers operating across the UK. It operates a directly authorised, multi-panel distribution network.