We carried out this announced inspection on 23 August 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 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.

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

IDH Stocksbridge is in the town centre of Stocksbridge and provides NHS and some private dental treatment to adults and children.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking and public transport facilities are available near the practice.

The dental team includes four dentists, four dental nurses, one dental hygiene therapist, a practice manager and one 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 IDH Stocksbridge is the practice manager.

On the day of inspection we collected seven CQC comment cards filled in by patients.

During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, two dental nurses, a receptionist, the regulatory manager and a practice manager from a nearby practice as the manager from this practice was on leave. We looked at the practice’s policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday 9am-5pm, Tuesday 9-6:30pm, Wednesday and Thursday 9am-6pm, and Friday 9am-4pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The provider 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 to patients and staff.
• The practice staff had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider 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 provider was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
• 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 provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.

We spoke privately with four people who were attending the practice for check ups or treatment. All four people told us that they were "very pleased" and "more than satisfied" with all aspects of the service. They told us that staff were "very polite and friendly" and "professional". One person said “All my family come here, it’s a very good dentist and the staff are all excellent.” Everyone commented on the cleanliness of the practice. They said they regularly saw staff making sure that the surgery was clean, tidy and hygienic.