We carried out this announced inspection on 8 August 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 that we were inspecting the practice. They provided information which we took into account.

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 – Bridport Road is in Dorchester and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including for patients with disabled badges, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes three dentists, one dental nurse, one float dental nurse, two dental hygienists, three trainee dental nurses, one treatment coordinator/dental nurse, one practice manager/dental nurse and one head receptionist. The practice has three 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 – Bridport Road was the practice manager.

On the day of inspection we collected 14 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with five other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, one dental nurse, one float dental nurse, two dental hygienists, three trainee dental nurse, one treatment coordinator/dental nurse, one practice manager/dental nurse, one head receptionist, one regional regulatory officer and one area development manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm with occasional Saturday opening.

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.
• 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.

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

• Review its responsibilities as regards the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 and ensure all documentation is up to date and staff understand how to minimise risks associated with the use and handling of these substances.

• Review its responsibilities to respond to the needs of patients with disability and the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

We did not speak with any people as part of this inspection. There were appropriate policies and procedures in place to gain consent and the provider had suitable emergency planning procedures in place.

The environment was clean and well maintained. Infection control procedures were in place and were being followed. Equipment was suitable maintained and serviced.

We found that people were cared for by a sufficient number of staff that had been through the appropriate recruitment checks.

There was an effective complaints system available, in case anyone wished to raise a complaint, and records were appropriately maintained.