We carried out this announced inspection on 9 October 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. A CQC inspector, who was supported by a specialist dental adviser, led the inspection.

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

Church Street Dental Practice is a well-established practice that provides mostly NHS dentistry to patients of all ages. The dental team consists of six dentists, seven dental nurses, a hygienist and three receptionists. The practice has five treatment rooms and is open Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Friday from 8.30am to 5pm, and on Tuesdays from 8.30am to 6.30pm.

There is ramped access for wheelchair and pushchair users at the rear of the building.

The practice is owned by a company 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 the practice is the principal dentist.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, the practice manager and three dental nurses. We looked at the practice’s policies and procedures, and other records about how the service was managed. We collected 43 comment cards filled in by patients prior to our inspection and spoke with another three patients on the day.

Our key findings were:

• We received many positive comments from patients about the dental care they received and the staff who delivered it.

• The practice was clean and well maintained, and had infection control procedures that reflected published guidance.

• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies and life-saving equipment was available.

• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with current best practice guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and other published guidance.

• Members of the dental team were up-to-date with their continuing professional development and were supported to meet the requirements of their professional registration.

• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported and valued by the principal dentist and practice manager. Teamwork in the practice was excellent.

• The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted on to improve its service.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should

• Review the practice’s system for the recording, investigating and reviewing incidents or significant events with a view to preventing further occurrences and ensuring that improvements are made as a result

• Review the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure accurate, complete and detailed records are maintained for all staff.

• Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dams for root canal treatment giving due regard to guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society.