Home care · West Sussex
Respite care in Horsham
Respite care gives a family carer time off: it can be a few hours each week at home, or a brief stay in a care home. None has confirmed it to us yet, so ask the 31 CQC-registered agencies covering Horsham directly.
CQC register data as of 27 October 2026 · Prices: Typical 2026 prices in West Sussex
Quick summary
- Of the 31 CQC-registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Horsham, 22 have a Good or Outstanding rating.
- Respite at home typically costs the same as ordinary visits: about £28–£38 an hour. A short stay in one of the 16 local care homes is charged by the week.
- CQC does not record which agencies provide respite care, so ask each agency directly.
- West Sussex council must offer a free care needs assessment, with the family carer entitled to a carer's assessment too.
Cite this: The Care Panel, "Respite care in Horsham", analysis of the CQC register, Oct 2026.
Your respite options
- Respite at home: a few hours of visits, or a live-in carer for days or weeks while you are away.
- Care home stay: usually one or two weeks, booked well ahead for holiday periods. Of the 16 CQC-registered care homes in Horsham, ask which accept short stays.
- Day centre: run by the council or a charity.
Start with a carer's assessment
If you look after someone, you are entitled to your own free carer's assessment from West Sussex council, separate from the assessment of the person you care for. It looks at the effect caring has on you and can lead to funded breaks, a carer's personal budget or other support. Carers UK runs a free helpline on 0808 808 7777. Getting assessed by West Sussex council.
If you are paying privately
- Agencies: ask for the minimum visit length and the notice they need.
- Care homes: ask whether rooms are kept for short stays, and visit before booking.
- Before the stay: share the care plan, the medicines and the daily routine.
Agencies covering Horsham: the data
Of Horsham and the 6 nearest towns we cover, Horsham ranks 3rd for the share of all listed agencies rated Good or Outstanding (71%); Haywards Heath is highest at 76%. Outstanding ratings: 1 covering Horsham, 5 across West Sussex. Ratings are about as recent as the council average here: 23% of agencies have one less than two years old, compared with 24% across West Sussex. At 88% Good or Outstanding, Horsham sits below the West Sussex figure of 91% (from 291 agencies). Registered specialisms here: 19 of 31 list physical disabilities, 15 of 31 list learning disabilities and 17 of 31 list mental health conditions. Most recent to register: City Healthcare Agency Limited (August 2026). Oldest rating on the list: Bertie & Bells Ltd, November 2018. The share registered for dementia is 74% in Horsham (23 of 31) and 76% across West Sussex.
Respite care prices in Horsham
| Visiting care | £28–£38 an hour |
|---|---|
| Live-in care | £1,400–£1,700 a week |
| Residential care home | £1,100–£1,600 a week |
| Nursing home | £1,400–£2,000 a week |
Council rates in West Sussex County Council: £28.92 an hour for home care (2025/26 average paid to agencies); £1,033.31 a week for residential care (2025/26 average, over-65s); £1,124.80 a week for nursing care (2025/26 average, over-65s) (source).
The Homecare Association puts the minimum sustainable price for council-funded home care in England at £34.42 an hour for 2026/27. Tools: weekly cost calculator and what would we pay?
Home care agencies in and around Horsham
Ask each agency whether it provides respite care. Ranked by CQC rating and how recent it is, then distance.
Bright Care Horsham
Est. £32–£39/hr
GoodOaks Homecare - Horsham and Crawley
Est. £30–£37/hr
Alina Homecare Horsham
Est. £30–£37/hr
The Sussex Village Homecare Service Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Metro Homecare Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Bluestar Care & Support LTD
Est. £30–£37/hr
Prime Care Domiciliary Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
AAA Care Solutions Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Qualis Home Care
Est. £30–£37/hr
Time For You
Est. £30–£37/hr
Ascot Care
Est. £30–£37/hr
Bertie & Bells Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Caring Hands
Est. £30–£37/hr
Mencap - Surrey and Sussex Supported Living
Est. £30–£37/hr
Home Instead Horsham, Haywards Heath & Burgess Hill
Est. £33–£40/hr
Registered Area Office Home Care
Est. £30–£37/hr
Leah Care
Est. £30–£37/hr
My Homecare West Sussex
Est. £30–£37/hr
Regal Home Care Limited
Est. £30–£37/hr
Gozone Care Ltd
Est. £30–£37/hr
Respite care in Horsham: common questions
Who provides respite care in Horsham?
The CQC register does not show who offers respite care. There are 31 registered agencies that have an office within 7 miles of Horsham, 22 of them rated Good or Outstanding, so ask each one.
Can respite care be paid for by the council?
Start with a carer's assessment from West Sussex 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.
How good are home care agencies around Horsham?
88% Good or Outstanding (22 of 25 rated). 7 were inspected or rated within two years, and 23 are registered for dementia.
Respite care in Horsham: 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 Horsham
Respite care nearby
- Respite care in Billingshurst 6.5 mi
- Respite care in Crawley 6.5 mi
- Respite care in Cranleigh 8.7 mi
- Respite care in Horley 10.2 mi
- Respite care in Haywards Heath 10.8 mi
- Respite care in Burgess Hill 11.3 mi
- Respite care in Dorking 11.3 mi
- Respite care in Crawley Down 11.3 mi
Built from the Care Quality Commission's register (Oct 2026) under Open Government Licence v3.0. The Care Panel lists and compares services but runs none.