We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 10 March 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

Grassington Dental Care is situated in Grassington, North Yorkshire. It offers approximately 75% NHS treatment and 25% private treatment to patients of all ages. The services include preventative advice and treatment and routine restorative dental care.

The practice is located on the second and third floors of a medical centre above a GP surgery. The practice has four surgeries, a decontamination room, one waiting area and a reception area. The reception area, waiting area and two surgeries are on the second floor. The other surgeries are on the third floor. There was a lift to access all floors and there were accessible toilet facilities on the ground floor of the premises in the GP surgery.

There are four dentists, one dental hygienist, one dental hygiene therapist, nine dental nurses (including two trainees), three receptionists and a practice manager.

The opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8-00am to 5-00pm.

The practice owner 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.

During the inspection we received feedback from 40 patients. The patients were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. Comments included that the staff were caring, friendly and welcoming. They also commented that they were listened to and that the practice was pleasant, safe and hygienic.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and hygienic.
• The practice had effective systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including infection prevention, control and health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• Staff were appropriately qualified and had received training appropriate to their roles.
• Patients were involved in making decisions about their treatment and were given clear explanations about their proposed treatment including costs, benefits and risks.
• Dental care records were detailed and showed that treatment was planned in line with current best practice guidelines.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• We observed that patients were treated with kindness and respect by staff. Staff ensured there was sufficient time to explain fully the care and treatment they were providing in a way patients understood.
• Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed.
• The practice had a complaints system in place and there was an openness and transparency in how these were dealt with.
• There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice and staff told us that they felt supported, appreciated and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.

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

• Review the practice’s procedure for the storage of glucagon.
• Review its X-ray audit protocol so that it is practitioner specific.