Home care · London

Respite care in St John's Wood

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. 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: Prices typically seen in London in 2026

Written by our editorial team, then checked. Editorial policy and corrections · How we make money

Quick summary

  • Agencies that have an office within 2 miles of St John's Wood: 60, with 39 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 £30–£40 an hour. Short stays in the 20 local care homes are charged weekly.
  • Ask the London Borough of Westminster for a care needs assessment, which is free, and a separate carer's assessment for the person who looks after them.

Reference this page as: The Care Panel, "Respite care in St John's Wood", Oct 2026, based on the CQC register.

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. There are 20 CQC-registered care homes in St John's Wood; ask which take 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.

A carer's assessment comes first

Anyone who looks after another person can ask the London Borough of Westminster 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. Requesting an assessment from the London Borough of Westminster.

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.

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 respite care in St John's Wood: typical prices

Prices typically seen in London in 2026
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. Tools: weekly cost calculator and what would we pay?

Home care agencies covering St John's Wood

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

  1. Bluebird Care (Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea)

    0.9 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £37–£46/hr

    OutstandingRated Apr 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (Bluebird Care (Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea))

  2. Penrose Care Limited

    1.0 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £36–£44/hr

    OutstandingRated Mar 2022
    Full profile (Penrose Care Limited)

  3. St Johns Wood

    under 0.5 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Dec 2025Inspected recently
    Full profile (St Johns Wood)

  4. Hedgerow Homecare

    0.6 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Jun 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (Hedgerow Homecare)

  5. HomeLink Healthcare Limited

    1.1 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Mar 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (HomeLink Healthcare Limited)

  6. Onecall24 Healthcare Limited

    1.2 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Mar 2025Inspected recently
    Full profile (Onecall24 Healthcare Limited)

  7. STANDBY24 LTD

    1.2 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Nov 2025Inspected recently
    Full profile (STANDBY24 LTD)

  8. Integrity Care Agency Ltd

    1.2 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Apr 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (Integrity Care Agency Ltd)

  9. London Care (Westminster)

    1.4 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Jan 2025Inspected recently
    Full profile (London Care (Westminster))

  10. Servesoul - Camden Office

    1.4 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Jan 2025Inspected recently
    Full profile (Servesoul - Camden Office)

  11. Walfinch Hampstead & Camden

    1.5 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £31–£37/hr

    GoodRated Dec 2025Inspected recently
    Full profile (Walfinch Hampstead & Camden)

  12. Sabir Care UK Ltd

    1.6 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Nov 2025Inspected recently
    Full profile (Sabir Care UK Ltd)

  13. Hopscotch Women’s Centre

    1.6 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Jun 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (Hopscotch Women’s Centre)

  14. Kapital Care (UK) Limited

    1.7 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Oct 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (Kapital Care (UK) Limited)

  15. Ivy Homecare Services Limited

    1.9 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Mar 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (Ivy Homecare Services Limited)

  16. Hope Care Agency

    1.9 miles · Older people, Adults under 65

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Sep 2026Inspected recently
    Full profile (Hope Care Agency)

  17. PillarCare Agency

    1.1 miles · Dementia, Older people, Adults under 65

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Sep 2022
    Full profile (PillarCare Agency)

  18. Dominion Care Services Limited

    1.2 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Jun 2023
    Full profile (Dominion Care Services Limited)

  19. T & D Homecare

    1.4 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated May 2023
    Full profile (T & D Homecare)

  20. Ella's homecare Ltd

    1.4 miles · Dementia, Older people, Physical disabilities

    Est. £34–£42/hr

    GoodRated Jul 2023
    Full profile (Ella's homecare Ltd)

Every agency covering St John's Wood (60) →

What families ask about respite care in St John's Wood

Where can I find respite care in St John's Wood?

CQC does not record which agencies provide respite 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 respite care.

Can I get respite care for free?

It can be. If a carer's assessment from the London Borough of Westminster 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.

Are home care agencies in St John's Wood well rated?

39 of the 41 rated agencies (95%) are Good or Outstanding; 47 list dementia as a specialism and 15 were inspected or rated in the last two years.

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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.

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