diff --git a/app/dao/services_dao.py b/app/dao/services_dao.py
index 54fb5dd01..80ff0b815 100644
--- a/app/dao/services_dao.py
+++ b/app/dao/services_dao.py
@@ -35,13 +35,15 @@ def delete_model_service(service):
     db.session.commit()
 
 
-def get_model_services(service_id=None, user_id=None):
+def get_model_services(service_id=None, user_id=None, _raise=True):
     # TODO need better mapping from function params to sql query.
     if user_id and service_id:
         return Service.query.filter(
             Service.users.any(id=user_id)).filter_by(id=service_id).one()
     elif service_id:
-        return Service.query.filter_by(id=service_id).one()
+        result = Service.query.filter_by(id=service_id).one() if _raise else Service.query.filter_by(
+            id=service_id).first()
+        return result
     elif user_id:
         return Service.query.filter(Service.users.any(id=user_id)).all()
     return Service.query.all()
diff --git a/app/models.py b/app/models.py
index 40acb7b66..e081653cf 100644
--- a/app/models.py
+++ b/app/models.py
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ class Service(db.Model):
     restricted = db.Column(db.Boolean, index=False, unique=False, nullable=False)
     queue_name = db.Column(UUID(as_uuid=True))
 
+
 class ApiKey(db.Model):
     __tablename__ = 'api_key'
 
diff --git a/app/notifications/rest.py b/app/notifications/rest.py
index d8da3202a..bddd13532 100644
--- a/app/notifications/rest.py
+++ b/app/notifications/rest.py
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
+import json
+
+import boto3
 from flask import (
     Blueprint,
     jsonify,
     request,
     current_app
 )
-
+from itsdangerous import URLSafeSerializer
 from app import notify_alpha_client
 from app import api_user
 from app.dao import (templates_dao, services_dao)
@@ -20,23 +23,54 @@ def get_notifications(notification_id):
     return jsonify(notify_alpha_client.fetch_notification_by_id(notification_id)), 200
 
 
+def _add_notification_to_queue(template_id, service, msg_type, to):
+    q = boto3.resource('sqs', region_name=current_app.config['AWS_REGION']).create_queue(
+        QueueName=str(service.queue_name))
+    import uuid
+    notification = json.dumps({'message_id': str(uuid.uuid4()),
+                               'service_id': service.id,
+                               'to': to,
+                               'message_type': msg_type,
+                               'template_id': template_id})
+    serializer = URLSafeSerializer(current_app.config.get('SECRET_KEY'))
+    encrypted = serializer.dumps(notification, current_app.config.get('DANGEROUS_SALT'))
+    q.send_message(MessageBody=encrypted,
+                   MessageAttributes={'type': {'StringValue': msg_type, 'DataType': 'String'},
+                                      'service_id': {'StringValue': str(service.id), 'DataType': 'String'},
+                                      'template_id': {'StringValue': str(template_id), 'DataType': 'String'}})
+
+
 @notifications.route('/sms', methods=['POST'])
 def create_sms_notification():
     notification = request.get_json()['notification']
     errors = {}
-    to, to_errors = validate_to(notification, api_user['client'])
-    print("create sms")
-    print(notification)
-    template, template_errors = validate_template(notification, api_user['client'])
-    if to_errors['to']:
-        errors.update(to_errors)
-    if template_errors['template']:
-        errors.update(template_errors)
-    if errors:
-        return jsonify(result="error", message=errors), 400
-    return jsonify(notify_alpha_client.send_sms(
-        mobile_number=to,
-        message=template)), 200
+    # TODO: should create a different endpoint for the admin client to send verify codes.
+    if api_user['client'] == current_app.config.get('ADMIN_CLIENT_USER_NAME'):
+        to, to_errors = validate_to_for_admin_client(notification)
+        content, content_errors = validate_content_for_admin_client(notification)
+        if to_errors['to']:
+            errors.update(to_errors)
+        if content_errors['content']:
+            errors.update(content_errors)
+        if errors:
+            return jsonify(result="error", message=errors), 400
+
+        return jsonify(notify_alpha_client.send_sms(mobile_number=to, message=content)), 200
+
+    else:
+        to, to_errors = validate_to(notification, api_user['client'])
+        template, template_errors = validate_template(notification, api_user['client'])
+        if to_errors['to']:
+            errors.update(to_errors)
+        if template_errors['template']:
+            errors.update(template_errors)
+        if errors:
+            return jsonify(result="error", message=errors), 400
+
+            # add notification to the queue
+        service = services_dao.get_model_services(api_user['client'], _raise=False)
+        _add_notification_to_queue(template.id, service, 'sms', to)
+        return jsonify(notify_alpha_client.send_sms(mobile_number=to, message=template.content)), 200
 
 
 @notifications.route('/email', methods=['POST'])
@@ -66,36 +100,52 @@ def validate_to(json_body, service_id):
     else:
         if not mobile_regex.match(mob):
             errors['to'].append('invalid phone number, must be of format +441234123123')
-        if service_id != current_app.config.get('ADMIN_CLIENT_USER_NAME'):
-            service = services_dao.get_model_services(service_id=service_id)
-            if service.restricted:
-                valid = False
-                for usr in service.users:
-                    if mob == usr.mobile_number:
-                        valid = True
-                        break
-                if not valid:
-                    errors['to'].append('Invalid phone number for restricted service')
+
+        service = services_dao.get_model_services(service_id=service_id)
+        if service.restricted:
+            valid = False
+            for usr in service.users:
+                if mob == usr.mobile_number:
+                    valid = True
+                    break
+            if not valid:
+                errors['to'].append('Invalid phone number for restricted service')
+    return mob, errors
+
+
+def validate_to_for_admin_client(json_body):
+    errors = {"to": []}
+    mob = json_body.get('to', None)
+    if not mob:
+        errors['to'].append('Required data missing')
+    else:
+        if not mobile_regex.match(mob):
+            errors['to'].append('invalid phone number, must be of format +441234123123')
     return mob, errors
 
 
 def validate_template(json_body, service_id):
     errors = {"template": []}
     template_id = json_body.get('template', None)
-    content = ''
+    template = ''
     if not template_id:
         errors['template'].append('Required data missing')
     else:
-        if service_id == current_app.config.get('ADMIN_CLIENT_USER_NAME'):
-            content = json_body['template']
-        else:
-            try:
-                template = templates_dao.get_model_templates(
-                    template_id=json_body['template'],
-                    service_id=service_id)
-                content = template.content
-            except:
-                errors['template'].append("Unable to load template.")
+        try:
+            template = templates_dao.get_model_templates(
+                template_id=json_body['template'],
+                service_id=service_id)
+        except:
+            errors['template'].append("Unable to load template.")
+    return template, errors
+
+
+def validate_content_for_admin_client(json_body):
+    errors = {"content": []}
+    content = json_body.get('template', None)
+    if not content:
+        errors['content'].append('Required content')
+
     return content, errors
 
 
diff --git a/app/schemas.py b/app/schemas.py
index a6e6c1377..d6ab588ba 100644
--- a/app/schemas.py
+++ b/app/schemas.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class UserSchema(ma.ModelSchema):
 class ServiceSchema(ma.ModelSchema):
     class Meta:
         model = models.Service
-        exclude = ("updated_at", "created_at", "api_keys", "templates", "jobs")
+        exclude = ("updated_at", "created_at", "api_keys", "templates", "jobs", "queue_name")
 
 
 class TemplateSchema(ma.ModelSchema):
diff --git a/config.py b/config.py
index b26a526a8..1dd256571 100644
--- a/config.py
+++ b/config.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ class Config(object):
     ADMIN_CLIENT_USER_NAME = None
     ADMIN_CLIENT_SECRET = None
 
+    AWS_REGION = 'eu-west-1'
+
 
 class Development(Config):
     DEBUG = True
diff --git a/migrations/versions/0010_add_queue_name_to_service.py b/migrations/versions/0010_add_queue_name_to_service.py
index 774b4d3ba..636847cd3 100644
--- a/migrations/versions/0010_add_queue_name_to_service.py
+++ b/migrations/versions/0010_add_queue_name_to_service.py
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ from sqlalchemy.dialects import postgresql
 def upgrade():
     ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
     op.add_column('services', sa.Column('queue_name', postgresql.UUID(as_uuid=True), nullable=True))
+    op.get_bind()
+    op.execute('update services set queue_name = (SELECT uuid_in(md5(random()::text || now()::text)::cstring))')
     ### end Alembic commands ###
 
 def downgrade():
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index b85bac9a7..96d3663b6 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ flask-marshmallow==0.6.2
 itsdangerous==0.24
 Flask-Bcrypt==0.6.2
 credstash==1.8.0
+boto3==1.2.3
 
 git+https://github.com/alphagov/notifications-python-client.git@0.2.1#egg=notifications-python-client==0.2.1
 
diff --git a/requirements_for_test.txt b/requirements_for_test.txt
index 263c2f4da..60ceea35b 100644
--- a/requirements_for_test.txt
+++ b/requirements_for_test.txt
@@ -3,4 +3,5 @@ pep8==1.5.7
 pytest==2.8.1
 pytest-mock==0.8.1
 pytest-cov==2.2.0
-mock==1.0.1
\ No newline at end of file
+mock==1.0.1
+moto==0.4.19
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/app/conftest.py b/tests/app/conftest.py
index 9241873ca..8ab965606 100644
--- a/tests/app/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/app/conftest.py
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@ def sample_service(notify_db,
         'users': [user],
         'limit': 1000,
         'active': False,
-        'restricted': False}
+        'restricted': False,
+        'queue_name': str(uuid.uuid4())}
     service = Service.query.filter_by(name=service_name).first()
     if not service:
         service = Service(**data)
@@ -158,7 +159,7 @@ def sample_admin_service_id(notify_db, notify_db_session):
 @pytest.fixture(scope='function')
 def mock_notify_client_send_sms(mocker):
     def _send(mobile_number, message):
-        return jsonify('sms sent'), 200
+        pass
 
     mock_class = mocker.patch('app.notify_alpha_client.send_sms', side_effect=_send)
     return mock_class
diff --git a/tests/app/notifications/test_rest.py b/tests/app/notifications/test_rest.py
index 8e3a4d11b..c8c13d5db 100644
--- a/tests/app/notifications/test_rest.py
+++ b/tests/app/notifications/test_rest.py
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+import boto3
+import moto
+
 from tests import create_authorization_header
 from flask import url_for, json
 from app import notify_alpha_client
@@ -70,6 +73,7 @@ def test_get_notifications_empty_result(
             notify_alpha_client.fetch_notification_by_id.assert_called_with("123")
 
 
+@moto.mock_sqs
 def test_should_reject_if_no_phone_numbers(
         notify_api, notify_db, notify_db_session, sample_service, sample_admin_service_id, mocker):
     """
@@ -77,6 +81,7 @@ def test_should_reject_if_no_phone_numbers(
     """
     with notify_api.test_request_context():
         with notify_api.test_client() as client:
+            set_up_mock_queue()
             mocker.patch(
                 'app.notify_alpha_client.send_sms',
                 return_value='success'
@@ -104,6 +109,7 @@ def test_should_reject_if_no_phone_numbers(
             assert not notify_alpha_client.send_sms.called
 
 
+@moto.mock_sqs
 def test_should_reject_bad_phone_numbers(
         notify_api, notify_db, notify_db_session, sample_service, sample_admin_service_id, mocker):
     """
@@ -111,6 +117,7 @@ def test_should_reject_bad_phone_numbers(
     """
     with notify_api.test_request_context():
         with notify_api.test_client() as client:
+            set_up_mock_queue()
             mocker.patch(
                 'app.notify_alpha_client.send_sms',
                 return_value='success'
@@ -139,6 +146,7 @@ def test_should_reject_bad_phone_numbers(
             assert not notify_alpha_client.send_sms.called
 
 
+@moto.mock_sqs
 def test_should_reject_missing_template(
         notify_api, notify_db, notify_db_session, sample_service, sample_admin_service_id, mocker):
     """
@@ -146,6 +154,7 @@ def test_should_reject_missing_template(
     """
     with notify_api.test_request_context():
         with notify_api.test_client() as client:
+            set_up_mock_queue()
             mocker.patch(
                 'app.notify_alpha_client.send_sms',
                 return_value='success'
@@ -173,6 +182,7 @@ def test_should_reject_missing_template(
             assert not notify_alpha_client.send_sms.called
 
 
+@moto.mock_sqs
 def test_send_template_content(notify_api,
                                notify_db,
                                notify_db_session,
@@ -185,6 +195,7 @@ def test_send_template_content(notify_api,
     """
     with notify_api.test_request_context():
         with notify_api.test_client() as client:
+            set_up_mock_queue()
             mocker.patch(
                 'app.notify_alpha_client.send_sms',
                 return_value={
@@ -224,6 +235,7 @@ def test_send_template_content(notify_api,
                 message=sample_template.content)
 
 
+@moto.mock_sqs
 def test_send_notification_restrict_mobile(notify_api,
                                            notify_db,
                                            notify_db_session,
@@ -237,6 +249,7 @@ def test_send_notification_restrict_mobile(notify_api,
     """
     with notify_api.test_request_context():
         with notify_api.test_client() as client:
+            set_up_mock_queue()
             Service.query.filter_by(
                 id=sample_template.service.id).update({'restricted': True})
             invalid_mob = '+449999999999'
@@ -267,13 +280,15 @@ def test_send_notification_restrict_mobile(notify_api,
             assert 'Invalid phone number for restricted service' in json_resp['message']['to']
 
 
+@moto.mock_sqs
 def test_should_allow_valid_message(
-        notify_api, notify_db, notify_db_session, sample_service, sample_admin_service_id, mocker):
+        notify_api, notify_db, notify_db_session, sample_service, mocker):
     """
     Tests POST endpoint '/sms' with notifications-admin notification.
     """
     with notify_api.test_request_context():
         with notify_api.test_client() as client:
+            set_up_mock_queue()
             mocker.patch(
                 'app.notify_alpha_client.send_sms',
                 return_value={
@@ -307,7 +322,7 @@ def test_should_allow_valid_message(
             json_resp = json.loads(response.get_data(as_text=True))
             assert response.status_code == 200
             assert json_resp['notification']['id'] == 100
-            notify_alpha_client.send_sms.assert_called_with(mobile_number='+441234123123', message='valid')
+            notify_alpha_client.send_sms.assert_called_with(mobile_number='+441234123123', message="valid")
 
 
 def test_send_email_valid_data(notify_api,
@@ -318,7 +333,6 @@ def test_send_email_valid_data(notify_api,
                                mocker):
     with notify_api.test_request_context():
         with notify_api.test_client() as client:
-
             to_address = "to@notify.com"
             from_address = "from@notify.com"
             subject = "This is the subject"
@@ -362,3 +376,16 @@ def test_send_email_valid_data(notify_api,
             assert json_resp['notification']['id'] == 100
             notify_alpha_client.send_email.assert_called_with(
                 to_address, message, from_address, subject)
+
+
+@moto.mock_sqs
+def test_add_notification_to_queue(notify_api, notify_db, notify_db_session, sample_service):
+    set_up_mock_queue()
+    from app.notifications.rest import _add_notification_to_queue
+    _add_notification_to_queue('some message', sample_service, 'sms', '+447515349060')
+
+
+def set_up_mock_queue():
+    # set up mock queue
+    boto3.setup_default_session(region_name='eu-west-1')
+    conn = boto3.resource('sqs')