We carried out an announced inspection of this practice on 9 September 2016. Breaches of legal requirements were found. After the inspection, the practice wrote to us to say what they would do to meet legal requirements in relation to well-led care.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Genix Healthcare Dental Clinic - Whitley Bay on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Our findings were:

Are services well-led?

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

Background

Genix Healthcare Dental Clinic is situated in the town centre of Whitley Bay. The practice offers NHS and private dental treatments including preventative advice, domiciliary home visits, cosmetic dental treatment and conscious sedation.

The practice has four surgeries located on the first floor with a lift for access, a decontamination room connected by a hatch to a sterilisation room, a sedation recovery room, a waiting area, a reception area to welcome patients and patient toilets. There are staff facilities and offices also on the first floor of the premises.

There are five dentists, a dental hygiene therapist, four dental nurses (one of which is a senior dental nurse), a treatment co-ordinator, a receptionist and a practice manager.

The practice is open:

Monday to Thursday 8am and 8pm

Friday 8am to 5pm

Saturday 10am to 2pm.

The practice manager 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.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had reviewed the recruitment policy and procedures to ensure they are suitable and the recruitment arrangements are in line with Schedule three of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 to ensure necessary employment checks are in place for all staff and the required specified information in respect of persons employed by the practice is held, in particular Disclosure Baring Service checks (DBS).

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 9 September 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 not providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

Genix Healthcare Dental Clinic is situated in the town centre of Whitley Bay. The practice offers NHS and private dental treatments including preventative advice, domiciliary home visits, cosmetic dental treatment and are about to start providing conscious sedation.

The practice has four surgeries located on the first floor with a lift for access, a decontamination room connected by a hatch to a sterilisation room, a sedation recovery room, a waiting area, a reception area to welcome patients and patient toilets. There are staff facilities and offices also on the first floor of the premises.

There are five dentists, a dental hygiene therapist, four dental nurses (one of which is a senior dental nurse), a treatment co-ordinator, a receptionist and a practice manager.

The practice is open:

Monday to Thursday 8am and 8pm

Friday 8am to 5pm

Saturday 10am to 2pm.

The practice manager 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.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including infection prevention and control, health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• The practice appeared clean and hygienic.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Infection control procedures were in accordance with the published guidelines.
• Treatment was well planned and provided in line with current best practice guidelines.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.
• There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice.
• There were gaps in the practice’s recruitment procedure.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and must:

• Ensure the practice's recruitment policy and procedures are suitable and the recruitment arrangements are in line with Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 to ensure necessary employment checks are in place for all staff and the required specified information in respect of persons employed by the practice is held.

You can see full details of the regulation not being met at the end of this report.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment giving due regard to guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society.
• Review its audit protocols to document learning points that are shared with all relevant staff and ensure that the resulting improvements can be demonstrated as part of the audit process.
• Review the practice's protocols for completion of dental records giving due regard to guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice regarding clinical examinations and record keeping.

We spoke with four people to find out their opinions of the treatment they had received at the practice. People told us they were involved in planning their treatment as they were given information and possible options for treatment. They told us their views were respected and the treatment they received reflected their choices. We concluded that people’s views and experiences were taken into account in the way the service was provided and delivered in relation to their care

People made positive comments and indicated they were pleased with the treatment they received. People described the treatment as "excellent.” We considered that people experienced care, treatment and support that met their needs and protected their rights.

We found that people who used the service were protected from the risk of abuse because the provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening.

People told us the practice was always clean. One person commented, “It’s spotless.” We saw that the treatment rooms, decontamination rooms, waiting area and other communal areas were clean and tidy. We concluded that people were cared for in a clean, hygienic environment.

People told us that they thought staff knew what they were doing. One person told us, “They’re very professional.” We found that people were cared for by staff who were skilled and supported to deliver care and treatment safely and to an appropriate standard.