Planned & Emergency Care
When care arrangements break down, work doesn't have to.
Temporary care employees plan for, and Back-Up Care for when the unexpected happens.
Why it matters
A temporary gap in care can have an immediate impact at work. Our Back-Up Care gives your employees access to fully vetted, insured childcare, eldercare and pet care within hours.
The Difference it Makes
200,000
working days saved in 2025
87%
of Back-Up Care users report a positive impact on their mental and emotional wellbeing
94%
of bookings fulfilled same-day
What is Back-Up Care & Education?
Employee Logs in via Work+Family Space
One tap from the company app or intranet. No new account, no HR ticket, no password to remember.
Searches for care type and date
Childcare, eldercare, or virtual tutoring. Today, tomorrow, or scheduled for next term break.
Book a vetted carer
Every carer DBS-checked, insured, and reference-checked. Profiles, photos, and reviews visible before booking.
THE CARE WE OFFER
Employees choose who needs care, when they need it and the kind of support that fits. We arrange the rest though our trusted and vetted network.
CHILDCARE
Trusted back-up childcare when usual arrangements fall through, plus temporary childcare when extra help can be planned ahead. This can include:
- in-home childcare
- nursery places
- childminders
- school holiday clubs
ADULT & ELDERCARE
Practical support for employees caring for a relative, or even themselves. This can include:
- companionship and support at home
- respite care
- attending medical appointments
- short-notice or planned cover
- support for emerging care responsibilities
VIRTUAL TUTORING
Virtual tutoring can help children strengthen core skills, prepare for important milestones and feel more confident in their ability to learn. This can include:
- Curriculum support
- Exams and transitions
- Confidence & study skills
- Personalised support for each individual
PET CARE
Support when pet-care responsibilities would otherwise prevent an employee from working. This includes:
- Sitter background or identity checks
- Meet & greets to find the perfect fit
- Reservation protection for every booking
- 24/7 Trust & Safety Support for pet owners and sitters
- Vet advice for sitters during bookings
See what gaps in care could be costing your organisation
Care gaps create hidden costs through absence, lost productivity and unwanted attrition.
Our savings calculator uses your employee population, sector and recognised benchmarks to estimate the potential impact of practical care support.
Savings Calculator: Back-Up Care
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Your questions answered
It provides temporary care for needs employees can anticipate, alongside emergency back-up care when usual arrangements fall through.
Care provided for a defined, time-limited need. This could be planned in advance, such as support during school holidays or recovery from an operation, or arranged at short notice following an unexpected disruption.
Depending on your programme, care can support children, adults, older relatives, pets and employees themselves when recovering at home.
Back-Up Care provides practical support when an employee’s usual care arrangements are unavailable. Depending on your programme, this can include emergency childcare, adult or eldercare and other temporary care, arranged at short notice or for needs employees can anticipate.
Employees can access care through Work+Family Space, online or by phone. They do not need to ask HR to arrange individual bookings.
Options can include in-home childcare, nursery places, childminders and school-holiday clubs, depending on need, location and availability.
Support can include companionship, respite care, practical help at home and assistance getting to medical appointments.
Care is delivered through Bright Horizons and our established, quality-assured provider network. The specific checks and requirements vary according to the type of care being delivered.
Yes. We’ll shape the service around your workforce, locations, priorities and investment model.
Funding models can be designed around your objectives and employee population. We’ll help you explore the appropriate structure and level of provision.
The service is designed to support geographically distributed workforces. Availability will depend on the care requirement, location and notice provided.
How a similar organisation solved this
Financial Services / 12,000 employees ● 5 min read
A FTSE 100 bank stopped losing returners. The lever was childcare, not policy.
Three years in, attrition among new parents is down 41% and engagement scores are up across the board. Here's what changed — and what didn't.
224% ROI in year one
Legal / 800 employees ● 5 min read
“We were haemorrhaging mid-level associates. Back-up care was the turning point."
A Magic Circle firm explains why same-day cover did what flexible working policies couldn't — and how they made the business case in a single quarter.
224% ROI in year one
TALK TO US
Let's shape the right programme for your people.
We'll help you identify the right combination of practical care, specialist guidance and coaching.
