We carried out this announced inspection on 6 April 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. 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 have any relevant information to share with us regarding this dental practice.

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

Etwall Dental Practice is located in a premises situated in the village of Etwall to the west of Derby and provides both NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

There was stepped access for patients to the front door. . Alternative arrangements were available for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including for patients with disabled badges, were available opposite the practice at the church.

The dental team includes four dentists; two hygienists; five qualified dental nurses including two receptionists; two trainee dental nurses and one practice manager. The practice has three treatment rooms, two of which are on the ground floor.

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 Etwall Dental Practice was the principal dentist.

On the day of inspection we collected 11 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with three other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, four dental nurses, 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: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm; Tuesday: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm; Wednesday: 8:30 am to 6 pm; Thursday: 8:30 am to 6 pm and Friday: 8:30 am to 4:30pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which followed 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 risks in the practice, particularly with regard to health and safety.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff had been trained and 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 steps to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs. Patients said they could get an appointment that suited them.
• 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 dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

As part of this inspection we spoke with four people who used the service and four members of staff.

All the people we spoke with were happy with the care and service provided by the provider. One person told us they thought the dentist was “brilliant” and “so thorough”. Another person told us “I couldn’t have found a better dentist”.

People found that communication was good with all staff and that it was easy to get appointments including when emergency treatment was needed.

We found there was some concern with pre employment checks on staff.