We carried out this announced inspection on 5 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 and Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice. They did not have any relevant information to share with us regarding this dental practice.

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

The Oasis Dental Practice in Netherfield is located in Nottingham. The practice provides mostly NHS dental treatment (95%) to patients of all ages.

The practice is located on two floors with level access to the front door. There are five treatment rooms, four of which are located on the ground floor. There is a pay and display car park behind the practice, with the first two hours free.

In January 2016, the Department of Health (DH) announced the launch of a prototype process as the next stage in the reform of NHS dentistry. Oasis – Netherfield was one of the practices in England selected to take part in the Dental Prototype Agreement scheme. The practice has been testing new ways of providing NHS dental care with an emphasis on preventing future dental

disease.

The dental team includes five dentists; two dental hygienists/ therapists; five qualified dental nurses; one trainee dental nurse, three receptionists and one practice manager.

The practice is owned by an organisation 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 Oasis – Netherfield Dental Practice is the practice manager.

On the day of inspection we collected 18 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with two other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, two dental nurses 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, Tuesday and Thursday: 8:30 am to 7 pm, Wednesday: 8 am to 7 pm,

Friday: 8:30am to 5pm and Saturday: 9 am to 1 pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which followed published guidance.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided, and received positive feedback.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risks in the practice, particularly with regard to health and safety.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes. Staff had been trained and 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 measures 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 dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

During our visit we spoke to three patients, two dentists working within the practice, three members of practice staff and the practice manager.

Patients we spoke to were involved in their care and treatment options. Patients were happy with the care provided and thought the practice was clean and hygienic. One patient said, “The staff are very nice. It is the best dentist I have been to.” Another patient said, “I have never been kept waiting long and I think the dentist is good."

We observed members of staff interacting with patients in a courteous, polite and efficient manner. We also observed two separate dentists providing oral hygiene guidance during a routine check-up and providing choices about any treatment required.

We saw that the practice had implemented an infection control policy and that staff were encouraged to develop their skills and undertake appropriate training to help deliver safe and effective care to patients. One member of staff said, “I have confidence in the dentists who work here. My family all use the practice and I receive treatment here too."

We looked at information from surveys and other audits undertaken by the provider to assess the quality of the service.