Question 1

Which Local Authorities does ABS work with?

Accepted Answer

ABS works with social work teams across South London — primarily Southwark — and accepts commissions from any UK Local Authority for placement moves and out-of-area transport.

Question 2

How do I commission a service for a Looked After Child?

Accepted Answer

Submit a referral via the secure online form on the Commission ABS page, or call our office on 01622 754226 during working hours. For Out-of-Hours placements call the 24/7 OOH line.

Question 3

What is the difference between an escort and contact supervision?

Accepted Answer

An escort accompanies the child during transport to keep them safe and settled. Contact supervision is a trained worker who observes a family contact session and writes the supervision report afterwards.

Question 4

Can ABS provide same-day or emergency transport?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We hold capacity for emergency placement moves and same-day work. Call the office line for daytime requests and the OOH line evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Question 5

Is contact supervision combined with transport in one booking?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Contact visit transport and supervision can be commissioned together so the same trusted worker collects, supervises and returns the child — reducing handovers and disruption.

Question 6

Will the same driver collect the child every day?

Accepted Answer

Wherever rota and capacity allow, yes — continuity of care is one of our core principles. For long-running school runs we name a primary driver and a named back-up so the child only ever sees two familiar faces.

Question 7

Are car seats and boosters provided?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We supply Group 0+/1/2/3 car seats and high-back boosters at no extra cost, fitted to the child's age, height and weight in line with UK law and the placement risk assessment.

Question 8

Can ABS handle long-distance or out-of-area placements?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We routinely transport Children Looked After to placements outside South London, including overnight returns where required. Mileage and any required overnight rest are quoted up front.

Question 9

Can transport and supervision be booked together?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and most LAs prefer it. The same DBS-Enhanced worker collects the child, supervises the contact session, writes the report and returns the child, reducing handovers and emotional disruption.

Question 10

Do you offer evening and weekend contact transport?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We run weekday, evening, weekend and bank-holiday sessions. Evening and weekend slots should be booked as far in advance as possible to guarantee escort availability.

Question 11

What happens if the contact session is cancelled at short notice?

Accepted Answer

Cancellations made before the driver is dispatched are not charged. Once the journey has started or the worker has arrived at the pickup, the session is billed at the standard rate to cover staff time.

Question 12

What is included in the £25/hour rate?

Accepted Answer

Qualified on-site supervisor, observation throughout the session, immediate safeguarding escalation if required, and a written supervision report submitted to the allocated social worker within 24 hours.

Question 13

Why is there a 4-hour minimum?

Accepted Answer

The minimum reflects supervisor travel, set-up, the contact session itself, debrief and report writing. Sessions shorter than four hours are still booked at the £100 minimum so the worker is fairly paid for their full commitment.

Question 14

Are your supervision reports court-admissible?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Reports are factual, contemporaneous and written to the standard expected by the Family Court. They are signed, dated and suitable for use in care planning, LAC reviews and contested hearings.

Question 15

How quickly can ABS respond to an emergency move?

Accepted Answer

Within working hours we typically dispatch within 60–90 minutes of confirmation. Out of Hours response times depend on geography but our 24/7 OOH line is staffed every night, weekend and bank holiday.

Question 16

Who can commission an emergency placement move?

Accepted Answer

Allocated social workers, team managers, EDT/OOH services and authorised commissioning officers. We accept verbal authorisation OOH provided written confirmation follows the next working day.

Question 17

Do you carry siblings together?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our 7-seater vehicles are configured to keep sibling groups together wherever the placement allows, with car seats and boosters fitted to each child individually.

Question 18

When is an escort mandatory?

Accepted Answer

On any journey involving a Child Protection Plan, CSE concerns, identified flight risk, gender-specific safeguarding, or where the placement risk assessment requires it. We will advise at booking if an escort is recommended.

Question 19

Can you provide a female (or male) escort on request?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We have both male and female DBS-Enhanced escorts available and routinely match the escort's gender to the child's preference, cultural needs or safeguarding plan.

Question 20

Can the escort use another LA's vehicle or a taxi?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer escort-only commissions where the LA already has transport arranged but needs a qualified, DBS-Enhanced worker to accompany the child.

Question 21

When will I receive the report?

Accepted Answer

Within 24 hours of the contact session ending. Urgent safeguarding concerns are phoned through to the allocated social worker (or EDT, OOH) immediately, before the written report is finalised.

Question 22

What does a standalone supervision report cost?

Accepted Answer

£50.00 per session — payable when ABS supervised the contact and the LA only requires the written record without the additional bundled rate.

Question 23

Can the report be used in court?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Reports are written to be legally admissible — factual, balanced, free of opinion, and suitable for care planning, LAC reviews and Family Court proceedings.

Six specialist services. One trusted provider.

Looked After Children Transport

Contact Visit Transport

Contact Supervision Service

Emergency Placement Moves

Escort Services

Standalone Supervision Reports

Service questions, answered