Home care · London
Respite care in Kingston upon Thames
Respite care is short-term care that gives a family carer a break, from a few hours a week at home to a short stay in a care home. 48 agencies registered with CQC cover Kingston upon Thames. Check with each one that it provides this kind of care.
Agencies from the CQC register, updated 19 October 2026. Prices: Typical 2026 prices in London
Key points
- Agencies that are based in the borough of Kingston upon Thames: 48, with 41 rated Good or Outstanding.
- Ask each agency about respite care; the CQC register has no record of who provides it.
- At home, respite is usually billed at the normal visiting rate, about £30–£40 an hour. The 44 local care homes charge short stays by the week.
- The London Borough of Kingston upon Thames must offer a free care needs assessment, and the person caring for them can have their own carer's assessment.
Cite this: The Care Panel, "Respite care in Kingston upon Thames", analysis of the CQC register, Oct 2026.
Ways to get a break
Day centres, run by charities or the council, are one choice. A short care home stay, typically one to two weeks and best booked early for holidays, is another. Kingston upon Thames has 44 care homes registered with CQC, so ask which of them offer short stays. At home, a visiting carer can cover a few hours, or a live-in carer can stay for a few days or weeks (live-in respite) so you can go away.
Arranging a private respite break
A smooth short stay starts with a visit to the care home and with sharing the care plan, medicines list and routines in advance. When paying yourself, also ask homes whether they set aside rooms for short stays, and ask agencies about minimum visit lengths and notice periods.
A carer's assessment comes first
Anyone who looks after another person can ask the London Borough of Kingston upon Thames for a carer's assessment of their own. It is free, it is separate from the cared-for person's assessment, and it considers how caring affects you. The outcome can include funded breaks, a personal budget for carers or other help. Free advice is available from the Carers UK helpline, 0808 808 7777. Asking the London Borough of Kingston upon Thames for an assessment.
What the register shows for Kingston upon Thames
Registered specialisms here: 40 of 48 list physical disabilities, 34 of 48 list learning disabilities and 30 of 48 list mental health conditions. In Kingston upon Thames, 81% of agencies support people with dementia (39 of 48); the London figure is 81%. Of Kingston upon Thames and the 6 nearest towns we cover, Kingston upon Thames ranks 5th for the share of all listed agencies rated Good or Outstanding (71%); Thames Ditton is highest at 73%. One rating goes back to November 2018: Jardine Care Limited t/a Home Instead Senior Care. Ask what has changed since. CQC registered Olive Branch Care and Support Ltd in September 2026, the newest on this list. At 98% Good or Outstanding, Kingston upon Thames sits above the London figure of 89% (from 2,431 agencies).
How much respite care costs in Kingston upon Thames
| Visiting care | £30–£40 an hour |
|---|---|
| Sleeping night | £190–£230 |
| Waking night | £240–£320 |
| Live-in care | £1,300–£1,800 a week |
| Residential care home | £1,456 a week |
| Nursing home | £1,680 a week |
For 2026/27, the Homecare Association says council-funded home care in England is only sustainable at £34.42 an hour or more. Work out a weekly cost · What would we pay?
Home care agencies that cover Kingston upon Thames
Ranked on CQC rating, its date and then distance. Ask each one about respite care.
Comfort Care At Home
Est. £36–£44/hr
Blue Ribbon Community Care in South West London
Est. £34–£42/hr
Hollyfield House
Est. £34–£42/hr
Leys Consultants
Est. £34–£42/hr
Concord Care Services
Est. £34–£42/hr
Alpenbest
Est. £34–£42/hr
Care Quality Services Sutton
Est. £34–£42/hr
Link House
Est. £34–£42/hr
Wise Support
Est. £34–£42/hr
St Ann's Lodge 2
Est. £34–£42/hr
Emezzions Care
Est. £34–£42/hr
Excellence Healthcare Services Ltd
Est. £34–£42/hr
Master One Care
Est. £34–£42/hr
SDL Kingston
Est. £34–£42/hr
Vigilant Health Care Ltd
Est. £34–£42/hr
Park House
Est. £34–£42/hr
Blue Ribbon Live In Care
Est. £34–£42/hr
Community Care Experts Home Care Service
Est. £34–£42/hr
Trustful Hands
Est. £34–£42/hr
Questions about respite care in Kingston upon Thames
Which agencies provide respite care in Kingston upon Thames?
CQC does not record which agencies provide respite care. 48 CQC-registered home care agencies are based in the borough of Kingston upon Thames; 41 are rated Good or Outstanding. Ask each whether it provides respite care.
Is respite care ever free?
Sometimes. Ask the London Borough of Kingston upon Thames 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.
What CQC ratings do agencies covering Kingston upon Thames have?
CQC rates 41 of 42 as Good or Outstanding, or 98%. Recent evidence: 17 rated or inspected in two years. Dementia specialists: 39.
Need respite care in Kingston upon Thames?
One short form: a maximum of three agencies working with us will contact you directly by email.
More about care in Kingston upon Thames
Nearby towns for respite care
- Respite care in Thames Ditton 1.9 mi
- Respite care in Claygate 3.3 mi
- Respite care in Ewell 3.4 mi
- Respite care in Esher 3.6 mi
- Respite care in Richmond upon Thames 3.9 mi
- Respite care in Epsom 4.3 mi
- Respite care in Merton 4.3 mi
- Respite care in Walton-on-Thames 5.1 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.