Home care · London
Live-in care in St John's Wood
Live-in care means a trained carer lives in the home and supports someone day and night, often as an alternative to moving into a care home. Compare the 60 CQC-registered agencies covering St John's Wood and ask which of them provide it.
Agency data: CQC register · Updated 27 October 2026 · Prices: Typical prices in London in 2026
In short
- Agencies that have an office within 2 miles of St John's Wood: 60, with 39 rated Good or Outstanding.
- CQC does not record which agencies provide live-in care, so ask each agency directly.
- Expect live-in care to cost about £1,300–£1,800 a week, against £1,615 a week for a residential home (typical prices in London in 2026).
- A care needs assessment from the London Borough of Westminster costs nothing.
To cite: "Live-in care in St John's Wood", The Care Panel, Oct 2026, from CQC register analysis.
Live-in care in practice
The person stays put, keeping their own routine, pets and neighbours, and the carer comes to them. Carers generally rotate in pairs, each living in for one to two weeks. Typical tasks: help to wash and dress, meals, medication, cleaning, outings and company.
Three things the carer must have: a private bedroom, roughly two hours' rest during the day, and a full night's sleep. If night-time help is needed most nights, budget for a waking night carer or a second live-in carer; a good agency will say so at the assessment.
Paying for live-in care
The starting point is a care needs assessment, which the London Borough of Westminster has to provide free. Where the council accepts that live-in care is a suitable way to meet eligible needs, it may contribute once your finances are assessed, and your home's value is left out because the care is at home. Its contribution can be paid as a direct payment, so you choose the agency. If the main need is a health need, NHS Continuing Healthcare may cover the full cost. Getting assessed by the London Borough of Westminster.
Managed or introductory: check before you sign
A managed live-in service employs or supervises the carer, is registered with the Care Quality Commission and is responsible for the care. An introductory agency introduces a self-employed carer and you become responsible for arranging and overseeing the care; these agencies are usually not CQC-registered. Ask which kind it is, who covers holidays and sickness, and what happens if the carer is not a good fit.
Should it be live-in care or a care home?
Here, a residential care home typically costs £1,615 a week and live-in care £1,300–£1,800 a week. A single person will often pay less in a care home, but a couple may pay less for live-in care than for two care home places, since one carer can look after both.
Choose a care home when moving and handling needs two staff day and night, or when isolation at home is the main worry. Choose live-in care when staying at home matters most and one carer can keep the person safe.
St John's Wood's agencies in figures
The share registered for dementia is 78% in St John's Wood (47 of 60) and 81% across London. On their CQC registrations, 52 of 60 list physical disabilities, 29 of 60 list learning disabilities and 31 of 60 list mental health conditions. Most recent to register: Caremark Camden (September 2026). Compare St John's Wood's 95% Good or Outstanding with 89% for the rated agencies among the 2,452 we list in London. Counting all listed agencies, not only rated ones, St John's Wood (65% Good or Outstanding) is 4th out of 7 local towns, led by Kensington and Chelsea (80%). Oldest rating on the list: Physical Disabilities Outreach Support Services Bramshurst, February 2018.
Paying for live-in care in St John's Wood: typical prices
| 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 | £1,615 a week |
| Nursing home | £1,850 a week |
What the council pays (Westminster City Council): £23.68 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £1,064 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £984 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source).
For 2026/27, the Homecare Association says council-funded home care in England is only sustainable at £34.42 an hour or more. Estimate the weekly cost or see what you might pay
Home care agencies covering St John's Wood
Not confirmed for live-in care, so ask. Listed by CQC rating and rating date, then distance.
Bluebird Care (Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea)
Est. £37–£46/hr
Penrose Care Limited
Est. £36–£44/hr
St Johns Wood
Est. £34–£42/hr
Hedgerow Homecare
Est. £34–£42/hr
HomeLink Healthcare Limited
Est. £34–£42/hr
Onecall24 Healthcare Limited
Est. £34–£42/hr
STANDBY24 LTD
Est. £34–£42/hr
Integrity Care Agency Ltd
Est. £34–£42/hr
London Care (Westminster)
Est. £34–£42/hr
Servesoul - Camden Office
Est. £34–£42/hr
Walfinch Hampstead & Camden
Est. £31–£37/hr
Sabir Care UK Ltd
Est. £34–£42/hr
Hopscotch Women’s Centre
Est. £34–£42/hr
Kapital Care (UK) Limited
Est. £34–£42/hr
Ivy Homecare Services Limited
Est. £34–£42/hr
Hope Care Agency
Est. £34–£42/hr
PillarCare Agency
Est. £34–£42/hr
Dominion Care Services Limited
Est. £34–£42/hr
T & D Homecare
Est. £34–£42/hr
Ella's homecare Ltd
Est. £34–£42/hr
What families ask about live-in care in St John's Wood
Who provides live-in care in St John's Wood?
CQC does not record which agencies provide live-in care. 60 CQC-registered home care agencies have an office within 2 miles of St John's Wood; 39 are rated Good or Outstanding. Ask each whether it provides live-in care.
How much does live-in care cost in St John's Wood?
Typically £1,300–£1,800 a week (typical prices in London in 2026). Expect more for a couple, for complex needs or for a short placement.
Live-in care or a care home: which costs less?
It depends who needs care. Alone: the care home, at about £1,615 a week locally, is often cheaper. As a couple: live-in care can cost less than two care home places.
Does the council pay for live-in care?
Yes, where an assessment of care needs shows eligible needs and accepts live-in care as a suitable way to meet them. A financial assessment by the London Borough of Westminster follows, the home is not counted for care at home, and savings under £23,250 can qualify for help.
How good are home care agencies around St John's Wood?
95% Good or Outstanding (39 of 41 rated). 15 were inspected or rated within two years, and 47 are registered for dementia.
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Other care in St John's Wood
Live-in care around St John's Wood
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.