We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 2 February 2017 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

Birchwood Dental Practice is located in a residential suburb close to the centre of Birchwood. It comprises a reception and waiting room, five treatment rooms, a decontamination room and patient toilet facilities. The practice is at ground floor level. Parking is available outside the practice and nearby. The practice is accessible to patients with disabilities, limited mobility, and to wheelchair users.

The practice provides general dental treatment to patients on an NHS or privately funded basis. The opening times are Monday to Wednesday 8.30am to 5.00pm, Thursday 8.30am to 6.00pm, and Friday 8.00am to 4.00pm. The practice is staffed by two principal dentists, an associate dentist, two dental therapists, and eight dental nurses, three of whom are trainees. The dental nurses al carry out reception duties.

One of the principal dentists 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.

We received feedback from 26 people during the inspection about the services provided. Patients commented that they found the practice excellent, and that staff were professional, friendly, and caring. They said that they were always given helpful explanations about dental treatment, and that the dentists listened to them and delivered excellent treatment. Patients commented that the practice was bright, clean and comfortable.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had procedures in place to record, analyse and learn from significant events and incidents.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, and knew the processes to follow to raise concerns.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and skilled staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies, and emergency medicines and equipment were available.
• The premises and equipment were clean, secure and well maintained.
• Staff followed current infection control guidelines for decontaminating and sterilising instruments.
• Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment were delivered, in accordance with current standards and guidance.
• Patients received information about their care, proposed treatment, costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Staff were supported to deliver effective care, and opportunities for training and learning were available.
• Patients were treated with kindness, dignity, and respect, and their confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients, and emergency appointments were available.
• Services were planned and delivered to meet the needs of patients.
• The practice actively encouraged and welcomed the views of patients and took their views into account.
• Staff were supervised, felt involved, and worked as a team.
• Robust governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice, and for the delivery of high quality person centred care.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure satisfactory documentary evidence of relevant qualifications is requested and recorded suitably.
• Review the storage of archived paper dental care records to ensure they are stored securely.