Home care · County Durham
Respite care in Horden
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. Compare the 19 CQC-registered agencies covering Horden and ask which of them provide it.
Updated 27 October 2026 (CQC register) · Prices: Typical 2026 prices across England
In short
- 19 CQC-registered home care agencies have an office within 7 miles of Horden; 13 are rated Good or Outstanding.
- County Durham council must offer a free care needs assessment, and a separate carer's assessment for the person who looks after them.
- The CQC register does not say who provides respite care: ask the agencies directly.
- Expect the visiting rate, typically around £32–£34 an hour, for respite at home. Short stays in the 6 local care homes are charged weekly.
Cite this: The Care Panel, "Respite care in Horden", analysis of the CQC register, Oct 2026.
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. Ask the 6 registered care homes in Horden whether they take short stays. Day centres run by the council or charities are another option.
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.
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.
Horden's agencies in figures
16 of the 19 agencies (84%) list dementia as a specialism, against 72% across County Durham. The oldest current rating dates from October 2018 (Housing 21 - Bramble Hollow). The newest registration is Vestra Homecare Durham, registered with CQC in August 2026. By specialism, 16 of 19 list physical disabilities, 9 of 19 list learning disabilities and 17 of 19 list mental health conditions. Compare Horden's 100% Good or Outstanding with 97% for the rated agencies among the 189 we list in County Durham. 21% of agencies covering Horden have a CQC rating from the last two years, against 15% across County Durham. No Outstanding ratings covering Horden yet, against 3 across County Durham. Counting all listed agencies, not only rated ones, Horden (68% Good or Outstanding) is 5th out of 7 local towns, led by Seaham (79%).
What respite care costs in Horden
| 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 |
Durham County Council's own rates: £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).
Hourly rates vary between agencies more than between regions; ask each agency for its full price list, including weekend and bank holiday rates. 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. Check what you would pay · Weekly cost calculator
Home care agencies serving Horden
Check with each agency that it offers respite care. Order: CQC rating, then how recent, then distance.
Quality + Care Solutions Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Brisca Healthcare
Est. £30–£37/hr
Elite Home Care Service Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Vestra Homecare Hartlepool
Est. £30–£37/hr
Langley House Care Centre
Est. £30–£37/hr
Elite Home Care Service Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Comfort Call Durham
Est. £30–£37/hr
Essential Care and Support Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Elegance Care and Support
Est. £30–£37/hr
Care Link Northern Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Direct Care and Support Team
Est. £30–£37/hr
Housing 21 - Bramble Hollow
Est. £30–£37/hr
Gainford House
Est. £30–£37/hr
COMFYCARE VILLAS LTD
Est. £29–£36/hr
Vestra Homecare Durham
Est. £29–£36/hr
Tender Glove Healthcare
Est. £29–£36/hr
Adada Care Services (Durham)
Est. £29–£36/hr
Care and Reablement Solutions LTD
Est. £29–£36/hr
AAA Homecare Limited - Hartlepool
Est. £29–£36/hr
What families ask about respite care in Horden
Which agencies provide respite care in Horden?
Ask each agency: CQC keeps no record of who provides respite care. Of the 19 registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Horden, 13 are rated Good or Outstanding.
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 County Durham 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.
What CQC ratings do agencies covering Horden have?
CQC rates 13 of 13 as Good or Outstanding, or 100%. Recent evidence: 4 rated or inspected in two years. Dementia specialists: 16.
Arranging respite care in Horden?
Tell us what's needed once. Featured partners and up to three rated agencies that take enquiries through us reply to you directly, by email.
Care options in Horden
Respite care in nearby towns
- Respite care in Peterlee 1.0 mi
- Respite care in Easington 1.7 mi
- Respite care in Seaham 5.1 mi
- Respite care in Easington Lane 5.6 mi
- Respite care in Hartlepool 6.4 mi
- Respite care in Hetton-le-Hole 6.7 mi
- Respite care in Houghton-le-Spring 8.2 mi
- Respite care in Bowburn 8.4 mi
Register information from CQC as at Oct 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0 applies. We do not deliver care ourselves.