We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 15 December 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

406 Dental provides some NHS, but mainly private treatment for both adults and children. The practice is based in a converted terraced property. The practice has three dental treatment rooms, a decontamination room, reception area, two waiting rooms and a staff room.

Treatment is provided on the ground and first floor. The ground floor is wheelchair accessible with a ramp to access the front of the property. On street parking is available.

The practice employs two dentists, two dental hygienists, four dental nurses, two of whom are trainees and a decontamination staff member. The clinical team are supported by a practice manager and reception staff.

The practice’s opening hours are 9:00am to 7.30pm Monday, 9am to 5:30pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and 8am to 2pm Friday.

The practice is a member of a ‘Good Practice’ accreditation scheme. This is a quality assurance scheme that demonstrates a visible commitment to providing quality dental care to nationally recognised standards.

The practice manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was well organised, visibly clean and free from clutter.
• An Infection prevention and control policy was in place. We saw the sterilisation procedures followed recommended guidance.
• The practice had systems for recording incidents and accidents.
• Practice meetings were used for shared learning.
• The practice had a safeguarding policy and staff were aware on how to escalate safeguarding issues for children and adults should the need arise.
• Staff received annual medical emergency training. Equipment for dealing with medical emergencies reflected guidance from the resuscitation council.
• Dental professionals provided treatment in accordance with current professional guidelines.
• Patient feedback was regularly sought and reflected upon.
• Patients could access urgent care when required.
• Dental professionals were maintaining their continued professional development (CPD) in accordance with their professional registration.
• Complaints were dealt with in an efficient and positive manner.

There was an area where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review its audit protocols to document learning points that are shared with all relevant staff and ensure that the resulting improvements can be demonstrated as part of the audit process.

We asked the patients to tell us what they thought about the dental service they received. They were very complimentary about their treatment, the kindness and attitude of the staff and the cleanliness of the practice. Some of the comments were:

“I have been coming here for years and still have my own teeth”.

"An excellent service. I was given plenty of information about the practice and about my treatment".

"Professional, respectful, kind and attentive".

“They are considerate and respectful”.

“Very professional”.

“First class”.