We carried out this announced inspection on 27 September 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.

We told the NHS England area team that we were inspecting the practice. They did not provide any information.

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

Baddow Dental Practice is in Great Baddow, Chelmsford and provides NHS (approximately 92%) and some private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is a portable ramp for access for people who use wheelchairs or pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available in a public car park near the practice.

The dental team includes six dentists, five dental nurses including two trainee dental nurses, one dental hygiene therapist, one apprentice dental nurse, one receptionist and one practice manager. The practice has four treatment rooms, two on the ground floor and two on the first floor.

The practice is owned by a partnership and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run. The registered manager at Baddow Dental Practice was the principal dentist.

On the day of inspection we collected 24 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with three other patients. This information gave us a wholly positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses, the apprentice dental nurse, one receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 5.30pm and Friday 8am to 12am and 12.30pm to 3pm.

Our key findings were:

• A strong and effective leadership was provided by the principal dentist and an empowered practice manager. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with 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 adults and 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 asked patients for feedback about the services they provided. Comments received from patients were wholly positive.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently. There was scope to ensure verbal complaints were monitored to ensure trends and learning needs were identified.