Home care · Plymouth
Respite care in Plymouth
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. 64 agencies registered with CQC cover Plymouth. Check with each one that it provides this kind of care.
CQC register data as of 27 October 2026 · Prices: Typical 2026 prices across England
Key points
- Agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Plymouth: 64, with 34 rated Good or Outstanding.
- The CQC register does not say who provides respite care: ask the agencies directly.
- Respite at home typically costs the same as ordinary visits: about around £32–£34 an hour. The 48 local care homes charge short stays by the week.
- Plymouth council 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 Plymouth", 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. Of the 48 CQC-registered care homes in Plymouth, ask which accept 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 Plymouth council 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 Plymouth council.
What the register shows for Plymouth
Oldest rating on the list: Yourway Support Services Limited, September 2018. Of Plymouth and the 6 nearest towns we cover, Plymouth ranks 5th for the share of all listed agencies rated Good or Outstanding (53%); Ivybridge is highest at 93%. On their CQC registrations, 52 of 64 list physical disabilities, 38 of 64 list learning disabilities and 37 of 64 list mental health conditions. Most recent to register: Care Angels Healthcare Ltd (August 2026). The share registered for dementia is 73% in Plymouth (47 of 64) and 73% across Plymouth.
Respite care prices in Plymouth
| Visiting care | around £32–£34 an hour |
|---|---|
| Live-in care | around £1,540–£1,610 a week |
| Residential care home | £1,445 a week |
| Nursing home | £1,690 a week |
Plymouth City Council's own rates: £24.36 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £979.01 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £1,051.59 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. For 2026/27, the Homecare Association says council-funded home care in England is only sustainable at £34.42 an hour or more. Source: Lottie Care Index, Q3 2026. Estimate the weekly cost or see what you might pay
Home care agencies in and around Plymouth
Ask each agency whether it provides respite care. Ranked by CQC rating and how recent it is, then distance.
Alpha Care SW Community Services
Est. £32–£39/hr
Support'ed Limited
Est. £32–£39/hr
Bluebird Care (Plymouth and South Hams)
Est. £33–£41/hr
Indiana Health Care Services
Est. £30–£37/hr
Helping Hands Plymouth
Est. £29–£35/hr
4ME&U LTD
Est. £30–£37/hr
Elm Case Management Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
District Healthcare Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Clear Thinking Care Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Nurse Plus UK - Plymouth
Est. £30–£37/hr
i-grow Care and Support
Est. £30–£37/hr
Network Healthcare Professionals Limited - Plymouth
Est. £30–£37/hr
Quality Lifestyle Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Your Choice Care & Support Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
The Durnford Society Ltd Head Office
Est. £30–£37/hr
Positive Steps Care & Support Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Glassmoon Services Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Smeaton Healthcare (Plymouth)
Est. £30–£37/hr
Prestige Nursing and Care Plymouth
Est. £32–£39/hr
Havencare Plymouth
Est. £30–£37/hr
Questions about respite care in Plymouth
Where can I find respite care in Plymouth?
CQC does not record which agencies provide respite care. 64 CQC-registered home care agencies have an office within 7 miles of Plymouth; 34 are rated Good or Outstanding. Ask each whether it provides respite care.
Can respite care be paid for by the council?
Start with a carer's assessment from Plymouth council: eligible carers can have breaks arranged or funded. Separately, look for sitting services from carers' centres and charities that are free or cheap.
How far ahead should we book respite in a care home?
Give several weeks where possible, more around school holidays. Ask on the first call whether the home holds rooms back for short stays, as not all do.
Are home care agencies in Plymouth well rated?
34 of the 39 rated agencies (87%) are Good or Outstanding; 47 list dementia as a specialism and 9 were inspected or rated in the last two years.
Respite care in Plymouth: ask who can help
Describe what's needed in one form, and as many as three agencies that accept enquiries via The Care Panel email you back.
Related care pages for Plymouth
Respite care nearby
- Respite care in Saltash 4.6 mi
- Respite care in Totnes 19.7 mi
- Respite care in Bovey Tracey 24.2 mi
- Respite care in Newton Abbot 24.7 mi
- Respite care in Paignton 24.9 mi
- Respite care in Kingskerswell 25.3 mi
- Respite care in Chudleigh 27.5 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.