Home care · County Durham
Respite care in Easington
From a weekly sitting service at home to a week or two in a care home, respite care is temporary cover that lets family carers rest. None has confirmed it to us yet, so ask the 24 CQC-registered agencies covering Easington directly.
CQC register data as of 27 October 2026 · Prices: Typical prices across England in 2026
Quick summary
- 24 CQC-registered home care agencies have an office within 7 miles of Easington; 16 are rated Good or Outstanding.
- Respite at home typically costs the same as ordinary visits: about around £32–£34 an hour. For a care home stay, the 3 local homes charge by the week.
- Ask each agency about respite care; the CQC register has no record of who provides it.
- A care needs assessment from County Durham council costs nothing, with the family carer entitled to a carer's assessment too.
To cite: "Respite care in Easington", The Care Panel, Oct 2026, from CQC register analysis.
Kinds of respite care
At home: a carer visits for a few hours so you can go out, or stays for a few days or weeks (live-in respite) while you go away. In a care home: a short stay of a week or two, often booked well ahead for holidays. Of the 3 CQC-registered care homes in Easington, ask which accept short stays. Day centres run by the council or charities are another option.
Your right to a carer's assessment
- Who: anyone caring for someone else.
- From: County Durham council, free, separate from the cared-for person's assessment.
- Looks at: how caring affects you.
- Can lead to: breaks the council pays for, a personal budget for carers, or other support.
Carers UK helpline (free): 0808 808 7777.
Getting assessed by County Durham council.
Booking respite privately
If you pay yourself, ask agencies for their minimum visit length and notice period, and care homes whether they keep rooms for short stays. For a care home, arrange a visit beforehand and share the care plan, medication list and routines so the stay goes smoothly.
Agencies covering Easington: the data
Dementia appears on 22 of 24 registrations here (92%), compared with 72% in County Durham as a whole. Housing 21 - Bramble Hollow has the oldest rating still in force, from October 2018. Vestra Homecare Durham is the most recently registered, joining the CQC register in August 2026. Looking at specialisms, 21 of 24 list physical disabilities, 9 of 24 list learning disabilities and 19 of 24 list mental health conditions. At 100% Good or Outstanding, Easington sits above the County Durham figure of 97% (from 189 agencies). Ratings are about as recent as the council average here: 17% of agencies have one less than two years old, compared with 15% across County Durham. County Durham has 3 Outstanding agencies, none of them covering Easington. Of Easington and the 6 nearest towns we cover, Easington ranks 6th for the share of all listed agencies rated Good or Outstanding (67%); Houghton-le-Spring is highest at 81%.
Respite care prices in Easington
| Visiting care | around £32–£34 an hour |
|---|---|
| Live-in care | around £1,540–£1,610 a week |
| Residential care home | £1,185 a week |
| Nursing home | £1,305 a week |
Council rates in Durham County Council: £22.83 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £857 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £890 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source).
Agencies differ more than regions do on hourly rates, so request a complete tariff from each one, covering weekends and bank holidays too. According to the Homecare Association, councils across England should pay no less than £34.42 an hour for home care in 2026/27 if it is to be sustainable. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Tools: weekly cost calculator and what would we pay?
Home care agencies in and around Easington
Ask each agency whether it provides respite care. Ranked by CQC rating and how recent it is, then distance.
Quality + Care Solutions Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Brisca Healthcare
Est. £30–£37/hr
Cergus Prime Care Durham and Sunderland
Est. £30–£37/hr
Vanguards Healthcare Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Elite Home Care Service Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Langley House Care Centre
Est. £30–£37/hr
Essential Care and Support Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Comfort Call Durham
Est. £30–£37/hr
Elegance Care and Support
Est. £30–£37/hr
Lifeways Community Care (Sunderland)
Est. £30–£37/hr
Housing 21 - Bramble Hollow
Est. £30–£37/hr
Cherry Tree Gardens
Est. £30–£37/hr
Haddington Vale Extra Care Scheme
Est. £30–£37/hr
Housing 21 - Beckwith Mews
Est. £30–£37/hr
Sunderland Community Support Service
Est. £30–£37/hr
Routes Healthcare Sunderland
Est. £30–£37/hr
Vestra Homecare Durham
Est. £29–£36/hr
Care and Reablement Solutions LTD
Est. £29–£36/hr
COMFYCARE VILLAS LTD
Est. £29–£36/hr
Tender Glove Healthcare
Est. £29–£36/hr
Respite care in Easington: common questions
Who provides respite care in Easington?
Ask each agency: CQC keeps no record of who provides respite care. Of the 24 registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Easington, 16 are rated Good or Outstanding.
Can respite care be paid for by the council?
Start with a carer's assessment from County Durham council: eligible carers can have breaks arranged or funded. Separately, look for sitting services from carers' centres and charities that are free or cheap.
How far ahead should we book respite in a care home?
Give several weeks where possible, more around school holidays. Ask on the first call whether the home holds rooms back for short stays, as not all do.
How good are home care agencies around Easington?
100% Good or Outstanding (16 of 16 rated). 4 were inspected or rated within two years, and 22 are registered for dementia.
Respite care in Easington: ask who can help
Describe what's needed in one form, and featured partners and as many as three rated agencies that accept enquiries via The Care Panel email you back.
Related care pages for Easington
Respite care nearby
- Respite care in Horden 1.7 mi
- Respite care in Peterlee 1.8 mi
- Respite care in Seaham 3.4 mi
- Respite care in Easington Lane 4.2 mi
- Respite care in Hetton-le-Hole 5.2 mi
- Respite care in Houghton-le-Spring 6.6 mi
- Respite care in Bowburn 8.1 mi
- Respite care in Hartlepool 8.1 mi
Provider details from the Care Quality Commission register, updated Oct 2026. Contains CQC data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The Care Panel is not a care provider.