We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 17 August 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

Carlton Lodge Dental Practice branch is a mixed dental practice providing primarily NHS treatment to adults and children. The practice has five dental treatment rooms and a separate decontamination room for cleaning, sterilising and packing dental instruments. There are also two waiting rooms, large reception area and staff rooms.

The practice is open from 8.45am to 5pm Monday to Friday and, at the time of our inspection, employed two dentists. They were supported by appropriate numbers of dental nurses and administrative staff.

The practice’s current registered manager was in the process of deregistering and a new manager was about to apply. 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.

Before the inspection we sent comment cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice. We received feedback from 14 patients. These provided a very positive view of the services the practice provides. Patients commented on the effectiveness of their treatment and the empathetic nature of staff.

Our key findings were:

• We found that the dentists provided patient centred dental care in a relaxed and friendly environment.

• Staff reported incidents and kept records of these which the practice used for shared learning.

• There were robust arrangements for identifying, recording and managing risks, issues and implementing mitigating actions.

• The practice had some systems in place to help ensure patient safety. These included responding to medical emergencies and maintaining equipment.

• Patients’ care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current legislation

• Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment

• The practice had good facilities and was well equipped to treat patients and meet their needs.

• Patients could access treatment and urgent and emergency care when required.

• Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and were supported in their continued professional development.

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

• Review appraisal and supervision arrangements so all staff, including the practice manager, receive support and monitoring of their performance

• Review systems for the storage and delivery of clean instruments to clinical areas.