Zentar Health & Social Care
Crisis intervention
When Local Authorities, ICBs, NHS teams and partner organisations need care to start urgently, Zentar Health & Social Care commissions and mobilises compliant packages for adults and children — often within hours — with or without property, through crisis, spot and short-term contracts nationwide.
Led by Dame Donna Kinnair DBE
Crisis response only works when speed is matched by clinical judgement, safeguarding discipline, and accountable leadership. Zentar’s Crisis Intervention service is led by Dame Donna Kinnair — Director of Nursing and Community Services and Registered Manager for CQC — so Local Authorities, ICBs and NHS partners can escalate urgently knowing packages remain safe, well-governed, and person-centred for adults and children alike.
Dame Donna Kinnair DBE
Clinical leadership for nursing and community services, with accountability for CQC-regulated delivery across urgent and planned community pathways.
Director of Nursing and Community Services (Registered Manager for CQC)Built for the moments that cannot wait
Crisis in social care rarely arrives with a tidy timeline. Placement breakdown, safeguarding escalation, carer collapse, delayed discharge, unplanned hospital exit, or a child needing immediate safe support — these situations demand a provider that understands why crisis response matters in this sector, and can act without compromising compliance.
Zentar Health & Social Care steps in when commissioners need urgent or interim packages — the kind of rapid cover Local Authorities and NHS partners often require while assessments, funding decisions, or longer-term placements catch up. We know every hour of delay increases risk for the person, pressure on brokerage and frontline teams, and cost to the system.
Who this service is for
Crisis Intervention is designed for organisations that need us to step in urgently with vetted, compliant staff — and, where required, access to suitable homes.
- Local Authorities and social care brokerage teams
- Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and CHC teams
- NHS Trusts, discharge hubs and acute pathways
- Children’s services and transition pathways
- Case managers and multi-agency crisis panels
- Partner providers needing short-notice capacity
What we can mobilise — within hours
Where risk, location and staffing allow, we commission and stand up care packages at pace for both adults and children. That includes emergency and interim arrangements when frameworks, block contracts or preferred-provider routes cannot respond in time — arranged as crisis cover, spot purchase, or short-term contracts while assessments and longer placements catch up.
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Urgent care packages
Rapid mobilisation of compliant staff for high-risk or time-critical starts — including overnight and continuous support where needed.
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Spot & short-term contracts
Flexible arrangements when framework capacity is unavailable, needs are highly individual, or interim cover is required outside block contracts.
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With property
Access to homes across the country for crisis, emergency, and short-term residential-style support when a placement with accommodation is required.
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Without property
Staffed packages into the person’s existing home, temporary accommodation, or a location already secured by the commissioner.
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Adults and children
Age-appropriate crisis response across adult social care and children’s pathways, with safeguarding and governance built into mobilisation.
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Stabilisation to transition
Short-term packages designed to reduce immediate risk and create a safe bridge into assessed, longer-term arrangements.
When commissioners call on crisis intervention
Local Authorities, ICBs, NHS teams and partners can call on us whenever urgent, regulated support is needed — including the situations below.
- Placement breakdown or notice that leaves no safe alternative in time
- Emergency or interim packages where assessment or funding decisions are still in progress
- Urgent hospital discharge or step-down where community support must start immediately
- Carer or provider failure creating an immediate safeguarding or welfare risk
- Children or young people needing urgent, regulated support while longer-term plans are confirmed
- Adults needing urgent, regulated support while longer-term plans or placements are confirmed
- Complex or specialist needs that cannot be filled quickly through existing local capacity
- Spot or short-term requirements outside block contracts where speed and compliance both matter
Compliant staff. Clear governance. No shortcuts.
Urgency never replaces standards. Every crisis package is delivered by vetted, compliant professionals under Zentar’s CQC-registered governance model — with risk assessment, care planning, escalation routes, and commissioner reporting designed for high-pressure starts.
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Workforce compliance
Right-to-work, DBS, training, and competency checks before deployment — even when the clock is against you.
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Safeguarding first
Adult and children’s safeguarding practice embedded from triage through mobilisation and review.
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Operational clarity
Clear start times, package scope, escalation contacts, and updates commissioners can act on.
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Flexible commercial models
Crisis, spot purchase, and short-term contracting options that fit urgent commissioning reality.
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Property + staffing options
Homes where needed, or staff-only delivery into settings already available to the commissioner.
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Bridge to longer-term care
Short-term stabilisation that can transition into commissioned community packages when appropriate.
Find out more
Want to know more about what we do? Contact our community team — we are happy to talk through how Crisis Intervention could support your area.
Related community services
Explore adjoining pathways across Community & Social Care.