A CARE service claiming “extraordinary support" for adults with learning disabilities has been placed into special measures after inspectors found residents in wheelchairs bathing themselves, sleeping in armchairs, and a serious allegation of abuse.

But Lifeways Community Care, which provides personal care to people in their own homes, dismissed a report by Care Quality Commission (CQC) and has lodged a complaint against inspectors.

The private care service provider told the Local Democracy Reporting Service they have challenged the "conduct" of a CQC inspector who led the investigation and the "proportionality of judgements made within the report".

The company says it prides itself on "helping each and every one of the people we support", for adults with autism who are offered a "truly personalised approach" to their care.

“We build support plans in partnership with each person’s family and support networks [...] because we know how important it is for the people we support to stay connected with the people they care about most,” its website states.

But when CQC officials inspected the services provided by the Warwickshire and Coventry care service provided by Lifeways they were alarmed to discover "widespread and significant shortfalls" in the quality of care their service users received, a report reveals.

Staff were described by the inspectors as "lacking understanding" in identifying different forms of abuse. Managers had not recorded incidents involving a person's safety - including one where a patient had been involved in 42 instances of choking - putting them at at risk of failing to learn from the incident, according to a damning 17-page inspection dossier.

Lifeways had "not recognised" a serious allegation of abuse, according to inspectors, and had not investigated or taken further action to safeguard the person. The report noted the registered manager took action "when we raised our concerns with them".

Following the inspection in July, the Warwickshire and Coventry care service provided by Lifeways has been rated inadequate overall, and rated inadequate and requiring improvement on the individual measures of being safe, caring and well-led.

The CQC has ordered the Warwickshire and Coventry care service to make urgent improvements. Its inspection followed concerns about a closed culture, allegations of abuse, neglect, and poor managerial oversight.

Agency staff were used to cover staffing shortfalls at the care. Their own internal audit identified staffing levels were 30 per cent below the required level.

"Some people's relatives told us they were concerned regarding the use of agency staff," the inspectors reported. "One relative told us, 'To make things better they need to use less agency staff.'

"Another person's relative told us: 'The agency staff they use can't cook. They don't encourage [person's relative] to eat; they've lost 10kg.'"

Contradictory care records, or no records at all, were reported. "One person's records described a person needing meals in 'bite sized' pieces. Another document stated food should be cut up no larger than a 5p piece."

Inspectors found staff were not always wearing PPE correctly and discovered PPE to be disposed of in general waste bins.

In its conclusion, inspectors said they were "not assured" by Lifeways they understood their responsibilities under the duty of candour or their responsibility to be "open and honest with people when care had not gone according to plan".

Lifeways Community Care said a new management and leadership team had recently been appointed.

A spokesperson said: "We are aware of the findings of the CQC report in relation to one site at Lifeways Community Care (Warwickshire & Coventry).

"We have challenged the content of this report through the factual accuracy process and have subsequently lodged a formal complaint with the CQC, particularly in relation to CQC inspector conduct and proportionality of judgements made within the report.

"We are disappointed that not all of the Warwickshire & Coventry services were reviewed as part of the inspection and consider that some of the findings in the report have been reported disproportionality and out of context.

"Notwithstanding that, we fully respect and value the important role of the regulator and we are committed to working collaboratively with the CQC to ensure we are delivering high quality services at all times.

" A new management and leadership team has recently been appointed at Lifeways and external advisors have already been brought in to ensure any lessons are learnt and all recommendations for improvement are implemented as quickly as possible.