Home care · Kent
Respite care in Dover
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. 22 agencies registered with CQC cover Dover. Check with each one that it provides this kind of care.
Agency data: CQC register · Updated 27 October 2026 · Prices: Usual 2026 prices across England
Key points
- 22 CQC-registered home care agencies have an office within 7 miles of Dover; 13 are rated Good or Outstanding.
- Ask each agency about respite care; the CQC register has no record of who provides it.
- Respite care at home is usually charged at the visiting rate, typically around £32–£34 an hour. For a care home stay, the 19 local homes charge by the week.
- Kent council has to offer a care needs assessment free of charge, and the person caring for them can have their own carer's assessment.
Citation: "Respite care in Dover", The Care Panel analysis of CQC register data, 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 19 CQC-registered care homes in Dover; ask which 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: Kent 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.
What the register shows for Dover
Kent has 11 Outstanding agencies in total; covering Dover the figure is 1. Of Dover and the 6 nearest towns we cover, Dover has the highest share of all listed agencies rated Good or Outstanding (59%); next is Folkestone at 59%. 81% of rated agencies covering Dover are Good or Outstanding, compared with 80% of those rated among the 831 we list across Kent. Two-year-old ratings or newer: 5% covering Dover, 9% across Kent. CQC registered Lauriem Beeches (EC) in March 2026, the newest on this list. Looking at specialisms, 16 of 22 list physical disabilities, 10 of 22 list learning disabilities and 15 of 22 list mental health conditions. In Dover, 68% of agencies support people with dementia (15 of 22); the Kent figure is 77%. One rating goes back to February 2018: Camelot Lodge. Ask what has changed since.
Paying for respite care in Dover: typical prices
| Visiting care | around £32–£34 an hour |
|---|---|
| Live-in care | around £1,540–£1,610 a week |
| Residential care home | £1,555 a week |
| Nursing home | £1,830 a week |
Council rates in Kent County Council: £28.05 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £1,186.81 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £1,378 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source).
Ask every agency for a full list of charges, with weekend and bank holiday rates: hourly rates vary more between agencies than between regions. 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 covering Dover
Not confirmed for respite care, so ask. Listed by CQC rating and rating date, then distance.
Priory Supported Living Kent
Est. £30–£37/hr
Inchwater Home Care
Est. £34–£42/hr
Chameleon Care Ltd (Dover)
Est. £30–£37/hr
Royal Care Dover
Est. £30–£37/hr
Nurse Plus UK - Dover
Est. £30–£37/hr
Dover
Est. £30–£37/hr
Bluebird Care Canterbury, Thanet, Folkestone and Dover
Est. £32–£39/hr
Wave Hill
Est. £30–£37/hr
Liberty Lodge Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Helping Hands Folkestone
Est. £29–£35/hr
Caremark (Dover)
Est. £30–£37/hr
Camelot Lodge
Est. £30–£37/hr
United Response - Kent DCA
Est. £30–£37/hr
Scodef Care
Est. £30–£37/hr
Hawkinge House
Est. £30–£37/hr
Expertise Homecare (South East Coast)
Est. £30–£37/hr
LDC Care Co Supported Living - Birch Tree
Est. £29–£36/hr
Vibrant Care Home Dover
Est. £29–£36/hr
Lauriem Beeches (EC)
Est. £29–£36/hr
Lauriem Ceaser Court (EC)
Est. £29–£36/hr
Questions about respite care in Dover
Which home care agencies offer respite care in Dover?
Ask each agency: CQC keeps no record of who provides respite care. Of the 22 registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Dover, 13 are rated Good or Outstanding.
Can I get respite care for free?
It can be. If a carer's assessment from Kent 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 are agencies covering Dover rated?
Of 16 agencies with a CQC rating, 13 (81%) are Good or Outstanding. Dementia is a specialism for 15, and 1 has a rating or inspection from the past two years.
Looking for respite care in Dover?
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Other care in Dover
Respite care around Dover
- Respite care in Deal 6.8 mi
- Respite care in Folkestone 6.8 mi
- Respite care in Sandwich 9.5 mi
- Respite care in Canterbury 13.5 mi
- Respite care in Ramsgate 14.7 mi
- Respite care in Broadstairs 16.5 mi
- Respite care in Margate 17.2 mi
- Respite care in Herne Bay 17.4 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.