Home care · County Durham

Respite care in Stanley

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 57 CQC-registered agencies covering Stanley and ask which of them provide it.

Agency data: CQC register · Updated 27 October 2026 · Prices: Typical 2026 prices across England

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Quick summary

  • 57 CQC-registered home care agencies have an office within 7 miles of Stanley; 45 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.
  • Respite care at home is usually charged at the visiting rate, typically around £32–£34 an hour. The 8 local care homes charge short stays 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 Stanley", 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. There are 8 CQC-registered care homes in Stanley; ask which take 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.

Stanley's agencies in figures

On their CQC registrations, 47 of 57 list physical disabilities, 39 of 57 list learning disabilities and 42 of 57 list mental health conditions. The newest registration is Human Support Group – Gateshead, registered with CQC in August 2026. The oldest current rating dates from September 2018 (Crescent Homecare Limited). 44 of the 57 agencies (77%) list dementia as a specialism, against 72% across County Durham. Counting all listed agencies, not only rated ones, Stanley (79% Good or Outstanding) is 2nd out of 7 local towns, led by Sacriston (87%). 2 are rated Outstanding here, out of 3 across County Durham. 23% of agencies covering Stanley have a CQC rating from the last two years, against 15% across County Durham. Compare Stanley's 100% Good or Outstanding with 97% for the rated agencies among the 189 we list in County Durham.

Paying for respite care in Stanley: typical prices

Typical 2026 prices across England
Visiting carearound £32–£34 an hour
Live-in carearound £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).

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. Work out a weekly cost · What would we pay?

Home care agencies covering Stanley

Not confirmed for respite care, so ask. Listed by CQC rating and rating date, then distance.

  1. Home Instead Durham

    6.5 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    OutstandingRated Nov 2023
    Full profile (Home Instead Durham)

  2. The Care and Support Group County Durham

    under 0.5 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Jun 2025Inspected recently
    Full profile (The Care and Support Group County Durham)

  3. TLC Community Services Limited

    3.3 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Jan 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (TLC Community Services Limited)

  4. New Vision Care Services

    4.8 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Jan 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (New Vision Care Services)

  5. Medsolve (UK) Limited

    4.8 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Feb 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (Medsolve (UK) Limited)

  6. My Home Care Ltd

    5.2 miles · Dementia, Mental health conditions, Learning disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Feb 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (My Home Care Ltd)

  7. Coquet Trust

    5.2 miles · Older people, Physical disabilities, Sensory impairments

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Nov 2024Inspected recently
    Full profile (Coquet Trust)

  8. Nupath Care Gateshead

    5.3 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated May 2025Inspected recently
    Full profile (Nupath Care Gateshead)

  9. Bluebird Care (Gateshead)

    5.5 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £32–£39/hr

    GoodRated Oct 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (Bluebird Care (Gateshead))

  10. KEYFORT North East

    5.5 miles · Physical disabilities, Sensory impairments, Learning disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Feb 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (KEYFORT North East)

  11. Housing 21 - Fountain Court

    6.1 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Aug 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (Housing 21 - Fountain Court)

  12. DK Home Support

    6.4 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Jan 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (DK Home Support)

  13. Nurtured Care NE

    6.5 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated May 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (Nurtured Care NE)

  14. My Versatile Healthcare Ltd

    6.8 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Jul 2025Inspected recently
    Full profile (My Versatile Healthcare Ltd)

  15. Accept Care Limited

    under 0.5 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Feb 2024
    Full profile (Accept Care Limited)

  16. North East Autism Society

    4.0 miles · Learning disabilities, Adults under 65, Caring for children (0 - 18yrs)

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Aug 2023
    Full profile (North East Autism Society)

  17. Care and Protect UK

    4.4 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Feb 2024
    Full profile (Care and Protect UK)

  18. Infinite Homecare Limited

    4.8 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Aug 2022
    Full profile (Infinite Homecare Limited)

  19. Orchard Home Care Services Limited

    4.9 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Jun 2023
    Full profile (Orchard Home Care Services Limited)

  20. Eternity Care Ltd

    4.9 miles · Dementia, Older people, Adults under 65

    Est. £30–£37/hr

    GoodRated Aug 2023
    Full profile (Eternity Care Ltd)

See all 57 agencies covering Stanley →

What families ask about respite care in Stanley

Who provides respite care in Stanley?

Ask each agency: CQC keeps no record of who provides respite care. Of the 57 registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Stanley, 45 are rated Good or Outstanding.

Can I get respite care for free?

It can be. If a carer's assessment from County Durham council finds you eligible, the council may arrange or pay for breaks, and carers' centres and charities run sitting services that are free or cheap.

How early do care homes need respite bookings?

Book weeks in advance, further ahead for school holidays, and check first that the home offers short stays at all.

How good are home care agencies around Stanley?

100% Good or Outstanding (45 of 45 rated). 14 were inspected or rated within two years, and 44 are registered for dementia.

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CQC register data (Oct 2026), reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The Care Panel is independent of every provider listed.

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