We carried out this announced inspection on 18 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 Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice. They did not provide any information.

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

Dental Care Plus Plymouth is in Plymouth and provides private treatment to mainly adult patients.

There are two treatment rooms on the ground floor and a ramp for access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Not all facilities at the practice are fully accessible. Car parking spaces, including spaces for patients with disabled badges, are available at the practice.

The dental team includes two dentists, two dental nurses, two dental hygienists, a practice manager (who is also a dental nurse), a receptionist and a group area manager. The practice has three treatment rooms.

The practice was recently purchased by the Bupa group 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 Dental Care Plus Plymouth was the area manager for the Dental Care Plus group (now a subsidiary of Bupa).

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

During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, one dental nurse, one dental hygienist, one receptionist, the practice manager, the area manager and the area dental support lead for Bupa. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday and Tuesday 10am – 6pm. Wednesday and Thursday 9am – 5pm. Friday 9am – 2pm. Extended opening hours are by request.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean. There were plans in place to address maintenance issues at the practice.
• The practice had infection control procedures which broadly 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 practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff 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 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 staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice had not received any formal complaints in the last 12 months.

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

• Review the current staffing arrangements to ensure all dental care professionals are adequately supported by a trained member of the dental team when treating patients in a dental setting taking into account the guidance issued by the General Dental Council.

• Review and act upon the recommendations in recent fire, legionella and asbestos reports for the premises to ensure all identified risks are monitored and mitigated and all actions are completed promptly.

• Review the practice's facilities within the decontamination room taking into account guidance issued in the Health Technical Memorandum 01- 05.

• Review its responsibilities to respond to meet the needs of patients with disability and the requirements of the Equality Act (2010).