We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 5 November 2015 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 this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Stoneleigh House Dental Practice provides general NHS dentistry and some private dental services to patients living in Williton and the surrounding villages. The practice has patients from a wide rural catchment area surrounding Williton, as well as from Minehead and villages nearer to Taunton with some patients travelling long distances to attend appointments. The practice is located on the ground floor of a prominent local property close to the main shopping area of Williton, with parking close by. The dental treatment and hygienist rooms are on the ground floor and there is a separate decontamination room.

The practice has three treatment rooms including a dental hygienist area. The practice employs three dentists who are supported by three dental nurses; one of the dental nurses is a trainee. The dental teams are supported by a practice manager and a receptionist. An area manager oversees this practice and two other practices owned by the provider. The practice is open from 8:30am until 5:00 pm Monday to Friday. The practice has their own website which provides information about the opening times and the services they provide.

The main dentist is the registered manager. 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.

We spoke with five patients who provided feedback about the service during our inspection. We also received comment cards from 14 patients. The patients we spoke with and the comments we received were all very positive about the treatment they received. Similarly positive comments were made about the caring, helpful, kind and professional nature of all staff in the practice. Patients commented they felt the dentists took time to explain their required treatment and involved them in their treatment and decision making.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had systems and processes in place which ensured patients were protected from abuse and avoidable harm by a skilled staff team.
• Patients’ treatment and support achieved positive outcomes, promoted a good quality dental care and was based on the most recently available guidance and evidence.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Services were organised so that they meet patients’ needs and were flexible enough to accommodate emergency appointments each day.
• The leadership, management and governance of the organisation supported the delivery of high-quality patient centred treatment, supported additional learning and promoted an open and fair culture.

There were two dentists providing services to patients on the day of our inspection; one other surgery room was not in use that day. Each dentist was supported by a dedicated dental nurse and patients were welcomed to their appointments by a receptionist and the practice manager. There was a dedicated decontamination room nurse each day with support from other staff if required; the provider and practice manager provided management support.

We spent six hours in the practice and looked at the way the practice provided its services, focussing on five key areas. We found the provider ensured their services were safe and were delivered by a caring, responsive and effective staff team. The practice manager ensured the practice was well led through careful monitoring of a team of qualified and experienced staff.

The patients we spoke with told us, “They recognised my anxieties and helped me relax,” whilst another said, “The staff here are excellent, they explain everything fully and keep me informed.” Patients told us the dental team kept them informed about the treatment they needed and involved them in decision making. Where a choice of treatment was available we heard from patients how they made choices based on comprehensive information provided.

We saw treatment was provided following a full mouth assessment which included checks for decay, gum disease and oral cancer. One patient told us their examination was, “Thorough and comprehensive.” Patients told us their treatment was delivered in private and they were treated with respect by all the staff. Where children had appointments we saw they were accompanied by their parent. This showed people’s care, treatment and safety was ensured.

Cleanliness and infection control was routinely carried out in accordance with current guidance. Records relating to the management of the practice were complete, up to date and monitored regularly. Patient records were up to date, indicated any medical alerts or allergies and showed the treatment plans patients required to maintain effective oral health.