Emergency & same-day transport

When it can't wait

Vayacare provides 24/7 emergency transport for SEND and social care situations where a child's safety depends on getting the right vehicle, the right driver, and the right safeguards in place — immediately.

📞 Emergency line: 0800 123 4567
Available 24 hours · 365 days

Response tiers

T1 — critical
≤ 90 minutes
Placement breakdown, secure transport, MASH referral
24/7
T2 — urgent
≤ 3 hours
Driver non-attendance, route failure, medical event support
06:00–22:00
T3 — planned
Same day
Short-notice route addition, last-minute EHCP transport request
08:00–18:00

Common emergency scenarios

Placement breakdown

A child's residential or foster placement breaks down at short notice. Transport to an emergency placement or secure unit is required same day.

Our response
2-hour vehicle despatch · trained PA available · court order briefed before departure
Driver non-attendance

A contracted driver fails to show on a critical run. The child has medical needs or a court-mandated placement that requires transport that day.

Our response
60-minute replacement driver · route coverage guaranteed · parents notified within 15 minutes
Medical emergency in transit

A child experiences a seizure or acute distress event during transport. Vehicle must divert safely and the appropriate response must be coordinated.

Our response
Driver trained in seizure protocol · 999 call protocol · incident log auto-generated · parents and SW notified immediately
Safeguarding emergency

An MASH referral requires immediate transport for a child to a place of safety, emergency foster carer, or secure assessment.

Our response
24/7 on-call · pre-briefed on court order and contact restrictions · SW accompaniment available

Trained for the hardest situations

Team Teach certified
All emergency drivers hold Team Teach level 1 for de-escalation and safe physical intervention.
Trauma-informed practice
Training from Beacon House Therapeutic Services. Understanding of trauma responses in children.
Secure transport capability
Tier 1–3 capability with PA cover for children presenting with high-level need or risk.
Court order briefing
Emergency team is briefed on contact restrictions and legal orders before every departure.
SW liaison
Direct communication channel with the allocated social worker throughout the journey.
CCTV and GPS on every vehicle
Full audit trail from the moment the vehicle leaves. Recording accessible to LA and SW within 30 minutes.

Register your LA for emergency standby

Pre-registering your LA means our emergency team already holds your LA contact details, approved driver briefing, and any standing orders before a crisis arises.

emergency@vayacare.co.uk