Respite Care in Cambridge

Cambridge • Cambridgeshire

Short-term and emergency respite care in Cambridge

Looking after a partner or parent in Cambridge can fill every hour of the week, and sooner or later the carer needs time back. Respite care gives family carers in Cambridge the chance to rest, recover from their own illness, attend an appointment or go on holiday, safe in the knowledge that a vetted Care Professional is looking after their loved one at home. Some families plan it months ahead around a trip; others call us on the morning a crisis begins.

There is no Protocol branch in Cambridge itself. Our Edgware office in north London organises Cambridgeshire bookings and matches each family with a vetted Care Professional. Before anyone starts, we confirm their enhanced DBS check, right to work, references and training. A consultant is on hand around the clock, so a carer in Romsey, Newnham or King's Hedges is never left waiting for an answer.

When respite care in Cambridge helps

• ✓ A planned break or holiday for the main carer
• ✓ Emergency cover if a carer is ill or admitted to hospital
• ✓ Recovery time after an operation or hospital stay
• ✓ A regular weekly break to prevent carer burnout
• ✓ Cover for a family wedding, funeral or event
• ✓ Personal care, medication and meals kept going
• ✓ Available as visiting calls or live-in respite
• ✓ A trial of care before committing longer term

Planned breaks and emergency cover, visiting or live-in

Respite care comes in two shapes, and we arrange both across Cambridge. Visiting respite is a run of daily calls that keeps a loved one's routine going while their usual carer takes time out; live-in respite places a Care Professional in the home for a week, a fortnight or longer. This is ideal when a spouse wants a real holiday or needs to convalesce. Planned respite is booked ahead so you can look forward to a proper break, while emergency respite is there for the day everything changes without warning, and we move as fast as we can to put safe cover in place.

Local knowledge across Cambridge

Our respite covers the whole city. Close to the centre, that means the terraces of Romsey and Petersfield, plus Newnham and Castle. In the north and east it takes in Chesterton, Arbury, King's Hedges and Abbey. To the south we reach Cherry Hinton, Coleridge, Queen Edith's, Trumpington and the newer homes at Great Kneighton. Whether a client lives in a CB1 flat near the station or a family home out in CB4, we match a Care Professional who can pick up the routine quickly and give the regular carer genuine peace of mind while they are away.

Respite is often needed after a hospital stay too. Following an operation or a discharge from Addenbrooke's Hospital on Hills Road, part of the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and run by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, a short block of respite care can support recovery at home, while also giving a worn-out family carer time to recover themselves. We help with medication, mobility and rehabilitation and stay in touch with community teams throughout.

The NHS and council may first offer reablement, free short-term help with everyday tasks that usually lasts up to six weeks (NHS guidance). When it finishes, we can step in.

Is respite at home right, or a short care-home stay?

Respite can also mean a short stay in a care home, booked with the home or the council. We do not run care homes; we arrange respite at home. A care home may suit better if someone needs nursing care on site. The NHS guide to carers' breaks and respite care lists other options, and our respite care overview and respite care guide compare them.

Funding and the cost of respite care in Cambridge

Respite is priced by the length and type of cover, so we give you a clear quote once we understand what you need and for how long. Many Cambridge families self-fund short breaks, but support may be available: as a carer you can ask Cambridgeshire County Council for a carer's assessment. The person you look after can have a care needs assessment followed by a financial assessment, with Cambridge City Council as the local district authority. If the council funds respite, you can take it as a direct payment and book the care yourself, including with us. Our team is happy to explain the routes, and you can read more on our paying for care guide or explore all our services.

More than home care: staffing for Cambridge providers

Our other work is staffing. Being REC-affiliated, we place healthcare staff with providers in Cambridgeshire, London and nearby counties. Cambridge care homes, supported living schemes and NHS teams can book short-notice shifts with us, from NMC-registered nurses and support workers to mental health and learning disability specialists.

Areas of Cambridge we cover for respite care

Cambridge neighbourhoods where we can arrange planned or emergency respite include:

• Chesterton
• Trumpington
• Cherry Hinton
• Newnham
• Romsey
• Arbury
• Petersfield
• King's Hedges
• Coleridge
• Queen Edith's
• Castle
• Abbey