We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 17 November 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

Courtyard Dental Care is situated in Pontefract, West Yorkshire. The practice offers predominately NHS dental treatments to patients of all ages. The services include preventative advice and treatment and routine restorative dental care.

The practice has two surgeries, a decontamination room, a waiting area and a reception area. All of the facilities are on the ground floor of the premises along with toilets.

There are two dentists and four dental nurses (one of whom is a trainee and one also covers the duties of a practice manager).

The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9-00am to 5-00pm.

The practice owner is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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.

During the inspection we received feedback from 29 patients. The patients were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. Comments included staff were friendly, caring and respectful. They also commented the premises were clean and hygienic and they could get emergency appointments when required.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was visibly clean and uncluttered.
• The practice had systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• Staff were qualified and had received training appropriate to their roles.
• Patients were involved in making decisions about their treatment and were given clear explanations about their proposed treatment including costs, benefits and risks.
• Dental care records showed treatment was planned in line with current best practice guidelines.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• Staff ensured there was sufficient time to explain fully the care and treatment they were providing in a way patients understood.
• Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed.
• The governance systems were effective.
• Staff told us they felt supported, appreciated and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.
• The practice had a complaints system in place. The complaints procedure in the waiting room was not up to date and there was no system in place to record verbal complaints.
• We observed some breaches of confidentiality in the waiting area.

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

• Review the practice’s safeguarding policy ensuring the contact details of the local safeguarding team are readily available.
• Review its responsibilities as regards to the Control of Substance Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and, ensure all substances are risk assessed and staff understand how to minimise risks associated with the use of and handling of these substances.
• Review staff awareness of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities under the Act as it relates to their role.
• Review staff’s awareness of confidentiality to ensure no personal details are discussed at the reception desk.
• Review the practice’s process to ensure the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) audits are completed on a six monthly basis.
• Review its complaint handling procedures and establish an accessible system for identifying, receiving, recording, handling and responding to complaints by patients.

We did not speak to any people who use the service as part of this visit.

The people we spoke to were positive about the care they received at the practice.