Home care · County Durham
Respite care in Lanchester
Respite care gives a family carer time off: it can be a few hours each week at home, or a brief stay in a care home. 19 agencies registered with CQC cover Lanchester. Check with each one that it provides this kind of care.
Agencies from the CQC register, updated 27 October 2026. Prices: Prices typically seen across England in 2026
Quick summary
- Of the 19 CQC-registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Lanchester, 15 have a Good or Outstanding rating.
- At home, respite is usually billed at the normal visiting rate, about around £32–£34 an hour.
- Ask each agency about respite care; the CQC register has no record of who provides it.
- Ask County Durham council for a care needs assessment, which is free, and the person caring for them can have their own carer's assessment.
Reference this page as: The Care Panel, "Respite care in Lanchester", Oct 2026, based on the CQC register.
Your respite options
- Respite at home: a few hours of visits, or a live-in carer for days or weeks while you are away.
- Care home stay: usually one or two weeks, booked well ahead for holiday periods.
- Day centre: run by the council or a charity.
If you are paying privately
- Agencies: ask for the minimum visit length and the notice they need.
- Care homes: ask whether rooms are kept for short stays, and visit before booking.
- Before the stay: share the care plan, the medicines and the daily routine.
Start with a carer's assessment
If you look after someone, you are entitled to your own free carer's assessment from County Durham council, separate from the assessment of the person you care for. It looks at the effect caring has on you and can lead to funded breaks, a carer's personal budget or other support. Carers UK runs a free helpline on 0808 808 7777. Getting assessed by County Durham council.
What the register shows for Lanchester
Across County Durham we list 189 agencies, and 97% of those rated are Good or Outstanding; covering Lanchester the figure is 100%. Across County Durham, 15% of agencies have a rating under two years old; covering Lanchester it is 11%. 2 are rated Outstanding here, out of 3 across County Durham. Ranked against the 6 closest towns on our site by the share of every listed agency that is rated Good or Outstanding, Lanchester comes 2nd of 7 (79%), with Sacriston top at 87%. 14 of the 19 agencies (74%) list dementia as a specialism, against 72% across County Durham. The oldest current rating dates from September 2018 (Crescent Homecare Limited). The newest registration is BMS Care Providers Durham, registered with CQC in March 2026. Registered specialisms here: 15 of 19 list physical disabilities, 12 of 19 list learning disabilities and 16 of 19 list mental health conditions.
How much respite care costs in Lanchester
| 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 |
What Durham County Council pays providers: £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).
The gap between agencies is bigger than the gap between regions. Ask for prices in writing, and check what weekends and bank holidays cost. The Homecare Association puts the minimum sustainable price for council-funded home care in England at £34.42 an hour for 2026/27. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Estimate the weekly cost or see what you might pay
Home care agencies that cover Lanchester
Ranked on CQC rating, its date and then distance. Ask each one about respite care.
Home Instead Durham
Est. £34–£42/hr
The Care and Support Group County Durham
Est. £30–£37/hr
TLC Community Services Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Infinite Homecare Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
My Choice Home Care
Est. £30–£37/hr
Accept Care Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Care and Protect UK
Est. £30–£37/hr
Yeshua Healthcare
Est. £30–£37/hr
Potens Dipton Supported Living and Outreach
Est. £30–£37/hr
Crescent Homecare Limited
Est. £32–£39/hr
Kelly Park Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
CEL Homecare North East
Est. £30–£37/hr
Quality First Care Services
Est. £30–£37/hr
YS Services Limited trading as Embracing Care
Est. £30–£37/hr
Second to None Care Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
The Oaklea Trust (Durham & Northumberland)
Est. £29–£36/hr
Tailored Family Support Ltd
Est. £29–£36/hr
BMS Care Providers Durham
Est. £29–£36/hr
Eland Supported Living Ltd
Est. £29–£36/hr
Questions about respite care in Lanchester
Who provides respite care in Lanchester?
The CQC register does not show who offers respite care. There are 19 registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Lanchester, 15 of them rated Good or Outstanding, so ask each one.
Is respite care ever free?
Sometimes. Ask County Durham council for a carer's assessment: if you are eligible, the council can arrange or fund breaks. Charities and carers' centres also run free or low-cost sitting services.
How much notice do care homes need for respite?
Some homes do not hold rooms for short stays, so ask early. Aim for several weeks ahead, and longer for school holiday periods.
How good are home care agencies around Lanchester?
100% Good or Outstanding (15 of 15 rated). 3 were inspected or rated within two years, and 14 are registered for dementia.
Need respite care in Lanchester?
One short form: featured partners and a maximum of three rated agencies working with us will contact you directly by email.
More about care in Lanchester
Nearby towns for respite care
- Respite care in Esh Winning 3.7 mi
- Respite care in Stanley 3.9 mi
- Respite care in Sacriston 4.8 mi
- Respite care in Pelton 6.5 mi
- Respite care in Rowlands Gill 6.8 mi
- Respite care in Chester-le-Street 7.0 mi
- Respite care in Durham 7.3 mi
- Respite care in Birtley 8.7 mi
Data: CQC register, Oct 2026, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0. We are an independent directory and do not provide care.