We carried out this announced inspection on 25 May 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. We did not receive any information of concern from them.

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

Mydentist - Peel Street - Barnsley provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children. The practice accepts referrals for minor oral surgery on the NHS.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking is available near the practice.

The dental team includes 13 dentists, 19 dental nurses (including three trainees), one dental hygienist, one dental hygienist therapist, four receptionists, a treatment co-ordinator, a practice administrator and a practice manager. The practice has eight 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 Mydentist - Peel Street - Barnsley was the practice manager.

On the day of inspection we received feedback from 21 patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, four dental nurses, the head receptionist, the practice administrator 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 to Thursday from 8:00am to 8:00pm

Friday from 8:00am to 6:00pm

Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected 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 risk.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff 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.
• The practice was pro-active in providing oral health advice to its patients, local schools and the local community.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• 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.

We identified areas of notable practice.

• The practice was proactive in providing oral heath advice and treatment to its patients. There were dedicated areas of the waiting room which they used to discuss oral hygiene and dietary advice with children. They organised kids clubs regularly during school holidays.

• They frequently visited local schools to provide oral hygiene advice to the local children. They frequently used the Mydentist bus to take to schools where they could demonstrate to children how a surgery worked which allowed children to “play dentist”.

• The practice organised peer review groups for other local practices. This gave local practices an opportunity to discuss cases with the dentists and offer support and training.