We carried out this announced inspection on 11 October 2018 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 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.

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

Hunts Cross Dental Centre is in a residential area of Liverpool and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There is one small step at the front entrance to the practice. The provider has a portable ramp available to facilitate access to the practice for wheelchair users and for pushchairs. Car parking is available near the practice.

The dental team includes two principal dentists, two associate dentists, four dental nurses, two of whom are trainees, two dental hygienists, and three receptionists. The dental team is supported by a practice manager. The practice has four treatment rooms.

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 Hunts Cross Dental Centre was one of the principal dentists.

We received feedback from 20 people during the inspection about the services provided. The feedback provided was positive.

During the inspection we spoke to two dentists, dental nurses, a dental hygienist, a receptionist 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 and Thursday 9.00am to 5.30pm

Tuesday 9.00am to 7.00pm

Wednesday 8.00am to 4.00pm

Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures in place.
• Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Most of the appropriate medical emergency medicines and equipment were available. The provider obtained the missing items the day after the inspection.
• The provider had safeguarding procedures in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures in place.
• Staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The dental team provided preventive care and supported patients to achieve better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• The provider had a procedure in place for dealing with complaints. The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The practice had a leadership and management structure and a culture of continuous improvement.
• The provider had systems in place to manage risk.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked patients and staff for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider had information governance arrangements in place.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Review the practice's recruitment procedures to ensure that appropriate checks, specifically references, are completed and suitably recorded prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice.