We carried out this announced inspection on 2 August 2017 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it caring?

• Is it responsive to people’s needs?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

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

Abbey Orthodontic Specialist Practice is in Dalton in Furness, South Cumbria. The practice provides NHS orthodontic treatment for people who are up to the age of 18 years. Access to treatment is on a referral basis only.

The practice is situated within a NHS clinic and is close to the secondary school in the town. This allows patients easy access for their appointments if they occur during school time. Car parking spaces, including spaces for patients with disabled badges, are available outside the practice.

The dental team includes one orthodontist, one dental nurse, a practice co-ordinator and a clerical support worker. There is also a locum dental nurse and a locum clerical support worker. The practice has two treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal orthodontist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection we collected 25 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with the orthodontist, the dental nurse and the practice coordinator. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open three days per week:

Monday Wednesday and Thursday 8.30am – 4.30pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

We spoke with people who used the service and they told us they were very happy with the care and treatment they received. Comments included,

"They are really, really good. Wonderful. No negatives at all".

"Excellent, really encouraging"

"Everyone is very good. I am very pleased with my treatment and was given very good information".

We found that the practice respected people's right to consent to treatment and ensured that they were cared for safely and appropriately.

The practice facilities were of a very high standard and were very clean and well maintained.

Staff had received appropriate training and professional development opportunities were good. Staff we spoke with told us that "It is a lovely place to work" and "There is very good teamwork".