We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 29 July 2015 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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

Lundwood Dental Practice is situated in the Lundwood area of Barnsely. It offers mainly NHS treatment to patients of all ages but also offers private dental treatments. The services provided include preventative advice and treatment and routine restorative dental care. The practice has two surgeries, a decontamination room, a waiting area, a reception area and first floor toilet facilities. The service is provided by two dentists who are supported by two dental nurses and a practice manager. The practice also has support from an area manager. The practice is located close to local amenities and bus services. There is ample parking in the surrounding area. The opening hours are Monday 8-45am to 5-15pm, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8-30am to 5-15pm, Wednesday 8-45am to 7-00pm and Saturday 8-45am to 2-15pm.

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 eightpeople provided feedback who were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be friendly and they were treated with dignity and respect.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including infection prevention and control, health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• Dental care records were detailed and showed that treatment was planned in line with current best practice guidelines.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• Patients were treated with care, respect and dignity.
• There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice and staff told us that they felt supported, appreciated and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.Staff received training appropriate to their roles.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Ensure that the justification for X-rays is always recorded in care records

All of the patients we spoke with described how they were involved in decisions about their treatment and said that they were treated with respect by all staff.

Patients received safe and appropriate treatment that met their needs. Their comments about their overall experience told us patients felt they received a good service. Comments included, “we always get paperwork about our treatment and everything’s really explained to you. They even demonstrate the equipment to be used to the children” and “I’ve been satisfied. I’ve never had any problems and they’re very professional. What I like is they don’t force unnecessary work on you and explain the reasons for the treatment.”

Patients were cared for in a clean environment and protected from the risk of infection. All patients were satisfied with the cleanliness of the practice. Two patients attending together as a family explained how equipment in the surgery was changed between each patient and that staff changed their gloves and aprons.

Relevant recruitment checks were carried out by the provider when they employed staff.

The service had quality checking systems in place to manage risks and assure the health, welfare and safety of patients receiving treatment.