We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 30 August 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

Farm Street Dental Practice is a dental practice providing general dental services on a NHS and private basis. The service is provided by three dentists. They are supported by three dental nurses (all of whom are trainees) and a practice manager (who was a qualified dental nurse). All of the dental nurses also carry out reception duties.

The practice is located in a residential area near the city centre. There is wheelchair access to the practice and car parking facilities. The premises consist of a waiting room, a reception area, a decontamination room and one treatment room on the ground floor. The first floor comprises of a storage room, one treatment room, toilet facilities and an office. The practice was open between 9am and 5pm on Monday to Friday. The practice also opened occasionally on weekends and late evenings.

The provider 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.

Twenty-nine patients provided feedback about the practice. We looked at comment cards patients had completed prior to the inspection. The information from patients was very complimentary. Patients were positive about their experience and they commented that staff were friendly, professional and welcoming.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was organised and appeared clean and tidy on the day of our visit. Many patients also commented that this was their experience.
• Patients told us they found the staff polite and friendly. Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed.
• An infection prevention and control policy was in place. We saw the decontamination procedures followed recommended guidance.
• The practice had systems to assess and manage risks to patients, including health and safety, safeguarding, safe staff recruitment and the management of medical emergencies.
• Dental professionals provided treatment in accordance with current professional guidelines.
• Staff received training appropriate to their roles.
• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.
• The practice had an effective complaints system in place and there was an openness and transparency in how these were dealt with.
• Staff told us they felt well supported and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.
• Practice meetings were used for shared learning.
• The practice demonstrated that they regularly undertook audits in infection control, radiography and dental care record keeping.

Our visit was discussed and arranged with the practice in advance. This was to ensure that we had time to see and speak to staff working at the practice, as well as people registered with the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists (one of whom was also the registered provider), two dental nurses and the practice manager. After our inspection visit, we spoke by telephone with eight people who were registered with the practice to ask them about their experiences of the service.

The people we spoke with were complimentary about the service they had received. Their comments included, “Happy with treatment so far”, “Very pleased with his (the dentist) level of care” and “Exceptionally good”. People told us they were given the information they needed to be able to make an informed decision about their treatment.

Staff received a range of training so that they had up to date knowledge and skills in order to treat people safely when they attended the practice.

People told us that the practice was clean and tidy and we found that the provider had effective infection control procedures in place. This meant the risk of infection for people using the service was minimised.

There were systems in place that ensured people using the service were asked their views about the service so the provider could use the information to improve.