We carried out this announced inspection on 17 July 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. They did not have any relevant information to share with us regarding this dental practice.

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

This Mydentist practice is located in premises in the centre of the village of East Leake to the south of Nottingham. The practice provides both NHS and private dental treatments to patients of all ages.

The practice is located on two floors with a flight of steps to access the first floor. There are five treatment rooms, one of which is located on the ground floor. There is a free car park for patients aprroximately 100 metres from the practice.

The dental team includes five dentists; one dental therapist/hygienist ; seven qualified dental nurses; three trainee dental nurses; four receptionists; and one practice manager.

The practice manager 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.

On the day of inspection we collected 43 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with one other patient. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists and three dental nurses plus the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday: 8:30 am to 6 pm; Tuesday: 8:30 am to 6 pm; Wednesday: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm; Thursday: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm and Friday: 8:30 am to 2:30 pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which followed published guidance.
• Patients provided positive feedback about the service and the staff.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risks in the practice, particularly with regard to health and safety.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes. Staff had been trained and knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• Children at the practice had been identified for additional support, advice and health promotion initiatives during the month of August 2017.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took measures 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.

People told us that they felt included in any care planning and that their questions or concerns were always listed to before any treatment started. The felt the care provided was safe and that the staff were very professional. They also said that the location was always clean and that the staff always presented themselves in clean uniforms and looked professional at all times.