We spoke with three parents/guardians of children who had received recent treatment at the practice. Each person was happy with standards of care and treatment. Comments included “Brilliant, it’s outstanding,” “Staff are friendly and welcoming,” “They explain things as they go along,” and “We’re treated with the utmost respect.” None of the people we spoke with had any concerns about the practice.

Patients who used the service understood the care and treatment choices available to them. The people we spoke with told us they were able to arrange appointments easily. The practice had a duty system to ensure patients could be seen promptly in an emergency.

We found appropriate records were being kept of patients’ treatment. Patients had signed to consent to treatment. Parents or guardians had signed on behalf of children. The practice was equipped to deal with emergencies and staff had received training in basic life support.

We found there were effective systems in place which reduced the risk and spread of infection. Staff had received training in infection control practice. There were infection control policies and procedures to provide staff with guidance on good practice. Thorough decontamination processes were used to ensure instruments were cleaned hygienically after use.

Patients were protected from unsafe or unsuitable equipment because the provider ensured it was adequately maintained and regularly serviced. We saw records which showed equipment was serviced and in good working order. For example, steam sterilisers and the x-ray equipment. This ensured patients were protected against the likelihood of injury or harm.

We carried out this announced inspection on 31/05/2018 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

Octagon Orthodontics provides NHS and private orthodontic treatment to patients of all ages.

The dental team includes two dentists with special interest in orthodontics, four orthodontists, four dental nurses, six trainee dental nurses, three orthodontic therapists, six customer service advisors and three practice managers.

The practice has ten treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal orthodontist there. They 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 25 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and obtained the views of 11 other patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal orthodontist, a second dental practitioner, practice nurse, receptionist and one of the practice managers.

We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open from 8.30am to 7pm on Monday and Wednesday, 8.30am to 5.30pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 8.30am to 1pm on Saturday.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies.
• 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.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The practice 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 practice had suitable information governance arrangements.