Home care · Cambridgeshire
Respite care in Cambridge
Respite care is short-term care that gives a family carer a break, from a few hours a week at home to a short stay in a care home. None has confirmed it to us yet, so ask the 42 CQC-registered agencies covering Cambridge directly.
Updated 26 October 2026 (CQC register) · Prices: Typical 2026 prices across England
In short
- Agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Cambridge: 42, with 22 rated Good or Outstanding.
- Cambridgeshire council must offer a free care needs assessment, with the family carer entitled to a carer's assessment too.
- Expect the visiting rate, typically around £32–£34 an hour, for respite at home. For a care home stay, the 15 local homes charge by the week.
- Ask each agency about respite care; the CQC register has no record of who provides it.
Cite this: The Care Panel, "Respite care in Cambridge", analysis of the CQC register, Oct 2026.
Ways to get a break
Day centres, run by charities or the council, are one choice. A short care home stay, typically one to two weeks and best booked early for holidays, is another. Ask the 15 registered care homes in Cambridge whether they take short stays. At home, a visiting carer can cover a few hours, or a live-in carer can stay for a few days or weeks (live-in respite) so you can go away.
Arranging a private respite break
A smooth short stay starts with a visit to the care home and with sharing the care plan, medicines list and routines in advance. When paying yourself, also ask homes whether they set aside rooms for short stays, and ask agencies about minimum visit lengths and notice periods.
A carer's assessment comes first
Anyone who looks after another person can ask Cambridgeshire council for a carer's assessment of their own. It is free, it is separate from the cared-for person's assessment, and it considers how caring affects you. The outcome can include funded breaks, a personal budget for carers or other help. Free advice is available from the Carers UK helpline, 0808 808 7777. Requesting an assessment from Cambridgeshire council.
Agencies covering Cambridge: the data
Looking at specialisms, 39 of 42 list physical disabilities, 23 of 42 list learning disabilities and 27 of 42 list mental health conditions. The newest registration is Availl (Cambridge), registered with CQC in July 2026. The oldest current rating dates from October 2017 (City Care Services). 35 of the 42 agencies (83%) list dementia as a specialism, against 79% across Cambridgeshire. Of Cambridge and the 6 nearest towns we cover, Cambridge ranks 6th for the share of all listed agencies rated Good or Outstanding (52%); Sawston is highest at 58%. 2 are rated Outstanding here, out of 3 across Cambridgeshire. 2% of agencies covering Cambridge have a CQC rating from the last two years, against 4% across Cambridgeshire. Compare Cambridge's 88% Good or Outstanding with 91% for the rated agencies among the 267 we list in Cambridgeshire.
What respite care costs in Cambridge
| Visiting care | around £32–£34 an hour |
|---|---|
| Live-in care | around £1,540–£1,610 a week |
| Residential care home | £1,250 a week |
| Nursing home | £1,530 a week |
What the council pays (Cambridgeshire County Council): £24.32 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £918 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £1,131 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source).
Hourly rates vary between agencies more than between regions; ask each agency for its full price list, including weekend and bank holiday rates. For 2026/27, the Homecare Association says council-funded home care in England is only sustainable at £34.42 an hour or more. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Estimate the weekly cost or see what you might pay
Home care agencies serving Cambridge
Check with each agency that it offers respite care. Order: CQC rating, then how recent, then distance.
Guyatt House Care
Est. £32–£39/hr
Helping Hands Cambridge
Est. £29–£35/hr
Alina Homecare - Cambridge
Est. £30–£37/hr
Greenwood Homecare Cambridge
Est. £30–£37/hr
Home Instead Cambridge
Est. £33–£40/hr
Availl (Cambridge)
Est. £30–£37/hr
Woodlands Court
Est. £30–£37/hr
Compassionate Heart
Est. £30–£37/hr
Reliance Care Services Cambridge
Est. £30–£37/hr
Oath Healthcare
Est. £30–£37/hr
Omanes Care Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
City Care Services
Est. £30–£37/hr
Lead Care
Est. £30–£37/hr
Future Care Solutions
Est. £32–£39/hr
Edmund House
Est. £30–£37/hr
Eaton Home Care Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
TCS Homecare, Histon
Est. £30–£37/hr
Better Home Care
Est. £30–£37/hr
Cambridgeshire County Council Reablement Service
Est. £30–£37/hr
Respite care in Cambridge: common questions
Where can I find respite care in Cambridge?
CQC does not record which agencies provide respite care. 42 CQC-registered home care agencies have an office within 7 miles of Cambridge; 22 are rated Good or Outstanding. Ask each whether it provides respite care.
Is there free respite care?
Free or low-cost sitting services are run by charities and carers' centres. The council can also arrange or fund breaks when a carer's assessment, which you request from Cambridgeshire council, shows you are eligible.
When should we book a respite stay in a care home?
Several weeks if you can, and longer for school holidays. Not every home keeps rooms for short stays, so ask when you first call.
Are home care agencies in Cambridge well rated?
22 of the 25 rated agencies (88%) are Good or Outstanding; 35 list dementia as a specialism and 1 was inspected or rated in the last two years.
Arranging respite care in Cambridge?
Tell us what's needed once. Up to three agencies that take enquiries through us reply to you directly, by email.
Care options in Cambridge
Respite care in nearby towns
- Respite care in Histon 3.5 mi
- Respite care in Waterbeach 5.1 mi
- Respite care in Cottenham 5.6 mi
- Respite care in Sawston 5.9 mi
- Respite care in Northstowe 6.4 mi
- Respite care in Cambourne 8.5 mi
- Respite care in Linton 9.8 mi
- Respite care in Papworth Everard 11.0 mi
CQC register data (Oct 2026), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The Care Panel is independent of every provider listed.