Whitworth Lodge
Care home, Croydon, 6 beds
Inadequate
Rated on
Rating from the Care Quality Commission.
Whitworth Lodge: inspection record
Rated Inadequate in September 2026, down from Good.
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | ||||||||||||
| Safe | ||||||||||||
| Effective | ||||||||||||
| Caring | ||||||||||||
| Responsive | ||||||||||||
| Well-led |
Ratings published by the Care Quality Commission.
Inspected and rated 7 times since 2015. First rated Good in 2015, most recently Inadequate in September 2026.
Its last inspection moved it down from Good to Inadequate. The latest rating was published 1 month ago.
How it compares locally
- The only Inadequate care home in Croydon, out of 112 with a rating.
- Smaller than 9 in 10 care homes in Croydon.
What inspectors found
From the Care Quality Commission's assessment published 23 September 2026 (assessment visit 26 May 2026). Quoted under the Open Government Licence.
Date of Inspection: 20 May 2026 to 3 June 2026. Whitworth Lodge is a residential care home registered to support up to 6 people with learning disabilities and/or autism. At the time of our inspection 6 people were living at the service.
We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed autistic people and people with a learning disability respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.
The inspection was undertaken to follow up significant emerging risk arising at Whitworth lodge from information in whistleblowing reports and safeguarding concerns received by CQC and the local authority. Concerns related to 5 staff who were suspended and the risk of organisational abuse.
At this inspection we found the quality of care being delivered exposed people to significant risk of harm. Care and support were not personalised to meet people’s wishes or needs and placed people in undignified or unsafe situations. The service is in breach of legal regulations in relation to person centred care, dignity and respect, consent, safe care and treatment, safeguarding, the safety of the environment, governance and safe staffing. The rating of the service is Inadequate.
People lived in an environment that was not consistently safe. There were such as unresolved fire hazards and a staircase that was unsafe for people with complex needs, such as blindness, to use These placed people at risk of harm.
Medications were not managed safely, and the provider had not ensured robust systems to assess the competency of staff who were undertaking these tasks. This included the provision of high-risk medicines which could have life-threatening consequences if not administered appropriately.
Risks to people were not consistently assessed or well managed, and there were gaps in staff knowledge, training, risk assessment and environmental safety which increased these risks.
Staff interactions with people were kind, however the overall culture at the service did not promote people’s dignity or quality of life. People were placed in disrespectful situations, were not supported to explore activities that were meaningful to them, and care that was provided was often task based.
Governance systems were not robust to identify or resolve risks to people. Leaders were not consistently knowledgeable about their responsibilities to provide safe care and treatment. There was not a positive safeguarding culture at the service, and safety events were not always appropriately reported or learned from.
In instances where CQC has begun a process of regulatory action, we may publish this information on our website after any representations and/or appeals have been concluded, if the action has been taken forward.
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Safe
Inadequate
Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.
At our last inspection we rated this key question good. At this inspection, the rating has changed to inadequate. This meant people were not safe and were at risk of avoidable harm.
The service is in breach of legal regulations related to safeguarding, safe environment, safe care and treatment, safe staffing and medicines optimisation. Safeguarding concerns and incidents were not always well documented or managed. Care plans did not contain enough information on managing risks. Staff competence to support people was not being checked effectively to make sure they could support people safely. -
Effective
Inadequate
Effective – this means we looked for evidence that people’s care, treatment and support achieved good outcomes and promoted a good quality of life, based on best available evidence.
At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has changed to inadequate. This meant there were widespread and significant shortfalls in people’s care, support and outcomes.The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to safe care and treatment and consent.
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Caring
No rating
Caring – this means we looked for evidence the provider involved people and treated them with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has changed to inadequate. This meant people were not treated with compassion and there were breaches of dignity and did not always feel well-supported, cared for or treated with dignity and respect. -
Responsive
Inadequate
Responsive – this means we looked for evidence that the provider met people’s needs.
At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has changed to inadequate. This meant services were not planned or delivered in ways that met people’s needs.
The service was in breach of a legal regulation in relation to person centred care. People’s care plans did not contain the correct information about their support needs. People’s preferences, likes and dislikes were not always recorded or being considered. People were not being asked to feedback about their care and support in meaningful ways. Some people were not supported to engage in meaningful past times. -
Well-led
Inadequate
Well-led – this means we looked for evidence that service leadership, management and governance assured high-quality, person-centred care; supported learning and innovation; and promoted an open, fair culture. At our last assessment we rated this key question good. At this assessment the rating has changed to inadequate. This meant there were widespread and significant shortfalls in leadership. Leaders and the culture they created did not assure the delivery of high-quality care.
The service was in breach of legal regulation in relation to governance and employing fit and proper persons at the service.
Questions to ask when you visit
- Safe was rated Inadequate on 23 September 2026. Ask how medicines are managed, how staffing levels are decided and how incidents are reviewed.
- Effective was rated Inadequate on 23 September 2026. Ask about staff training and how health appointments are arranged.
- Caring was rated Requires improvement on 23 September 2026. Ask how staff protect dignity and how residents are involved in decisions about their care.
- Responsive was rated Inadequate on 23 September 2026. Ask to see how care plans are kept up to date, how complaints are handled and what activities are on offer.
- Well-led was rated Inadequate on 23 September 2026. Ask about changes in management and what has changed since the report.
Contact and registration details
| Address | 52 Whitworth Road, London, SE25 6XJ |
|---|---|
| Neighbourhood | South Norwood, Croydon |
| Phone | 020 8239 9906 |
| Registered with the CQC since | |
| What it provides |
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| Who it supports |
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| Inspection reports | 6 inspection reports, latest 17 January 2023 (opens the Care Quality Commission website) Latest assessment published 23 September 2026; CQC's newer assessments are published on its website rather than as reports. |
Inspection report
Read the full inspection report (opens the Care Quality Commission website)The rating is the Care Quality Commission's. We show it as published and do not change it.
Who runs it
| Provider | Chitimali Locum Medical Limited |
|---|---|
| Ownership type | Organisation |
| Companies House number | 07302717 (opens Companies House) |
Nearest alternatives
- G The Manse Residential Care Home Care home, 0.2 miles awayGood
- – Acacia Care Centre Care home with nursing, 0.3 miles awayNot yet rated
- G R-H-P Outreach Services - South Norwood Hill Care home, 0.4 miles awayGood
- G Lakeside Nursing Home Care home with nursing, 0.4 miles awayGood
- G Heavers Court Care home with nursing, 0.6 miles awayGood
Getting help from London Borough of Croydon
The council can assess what care someone needs and tell them what help with the cost they may get.
- Adult social care at London Borough of Croydon
- Ask for a care needs assessment
- Phone: 0208 726 6500
- Support for carers
- Care home fee rates published by the council
Checked on the council's website, November 2026.
Common questions
- Does Whitworth Lodge provide nursing care?
- No. The Care Quality Commission lists Whitworth Lodge as a care home without nursing.
- How many beds does Whitworth Lodge have?
- The Care Quality Commission's register lists 6 beds at Whitworth Lodge.
- When was Whitworth Lodge last inspected?
- The Care Quality Commission's latest rating for Whitworth Lodge was published on 23 September 2026.
- Who runs Whitworth Lodge?
- Whitworth Lodge is run by Chitimali Locum Medical Limited.
- What is Whitworth Lodge's CQC rating?
- Its overall rating from the Care Quality Commission is Inadequate, published on 23 September 2026.