We carried out this announced inspection on 29 January 2018 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 provide any information of concern.

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

Cudworth Dental is in Barnsley and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages. The practice also offers dental implants, a domiciliary service and a sedation service.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes nine dentists (two of whom are principals) a practice manager and two senior dental nurses. There are also ten dental nurses, two dental hygiene therapists, two receptionists and a practice cleaner. A visiting dentist provides an implant service one day per month. The practice has six treatment rooms, a consultation room, two instrument decontamination rooms, two reception areas and two main patient waiting areas.

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 Cudworth Dental was the practice manager.

On the day of inspection we collected 24 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, four dental nurses, one dental hygiene therapist, one receptionist 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 9am – 7:30pm, Tuesday 8am – 7:30pm, Wednesday and Friday 8am – 4:30pm, Thursday 8am – 5:30pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk. The sharps risk assessment could be reviewed.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had thorough recruitment procedures for their permanent staff. Recruitment checks for visiting staff could be improved.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care 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 asked patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

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

• Review the practice’s sharps procedures and ensure the practice is in compliance with the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013 by updating the risk assessment to include who is responsible for disposing of needles and other sharp dental items.

We spoke privately with five people who were attending the practice for check ups or

treatment. All five people told us that they were "very pleased" and "more than satisfied"

with all aspects of the service. They told us that staff were "very friendly" and

"professional." People told us they had "no grounds for complaint." Everyone commented

on the cleanliness of the practice. They said they regularly saw staff making sure that the

surgery was clean, tidy and hygienic.