We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 29th March 2016 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.

Background

Oldland Dental Practice is located in the High Street in Oldland Common and provides mainly NHS treatment to adults and children and some private treatment. The practice consists of four treatment rooms, toilet facilities for patients and staff, a reception/waiting area, a second waiting area and a staff room. The practice offers routine examinations and treatment. There are five dentists and a hygienist.

The practice opening hours are:

9.00 to 18.00 on Monday

9.00 to 18.00 on Tuesday

9.00 to 17.00 on Wednesday

9.00 to 19.30 on Thursday

9.00 to 16.00 on Friday

There is an on-call dentist rota for emergencies outside these times.

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 29th March 2016. The inspection took place over one day. The inspection was led by a CQC inspector. They were accompanied by a dental specialist advisor.

Before the inspection we looked at the NHS Choices website. There were five reviews in the past 12 months and all gave five stars. There was also information about the friends and family test. There were 33 responses and all said that they would recommend the practice to friends and family.

For this inspection 23 patients provided feedback to us about the service through CQC comment cards. We also spoke with three patients. All these patients were positive about the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the service offered which they said was good and very good. They told us that staff were professional, caring, helpful and friendly. Patients told us that the practice was clean and hygienic. We received no negative comments.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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.

Our key findings were:

• Safe systems and processes were in place, including a lead professional for safeguarding and infection control.

• Staff recruitment policies were appropriate and most of the relevant checks were completed. Staff received relevant training.

• Risk assessments were in place and they were regularly reviewed.

• The clinical equipment in the practice was appropriately maintained. The practice appeared visibly clean throughout.

•The process for decontamination of instruments followed relevant guidance.

• The practice maintained appropriate dental care records and these were updated.

• Patients were provided with health promotion advice to promote good oral care.

• Written consent was obtained for dental treatment.

• The dentists were not all aware of the process to follow when a person lacked capacity to give consent to treatment.

• Feedback that we received from patients was positive. Patients said that they received a caring and effective service.

• There were governance systems at the practice such as systems for auditing patient records, infection control and radiographs.

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

• Review the process for following up incidents when a patient is harmed as a result of their care and develop guidance for staff about the duty of candour.

• Review the process of recruitment of staff to make sure written references are obtained in line with current guidance about recruitment.

• Review the system for recording the training and continuing professional development (CPD) of all staff in the practice so that it is clear that all the staff have up to date relevant training and it is possible to see when updates are due.

• Review the guidance for staff about the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how to treat a person if they lack capacity to consent for themselves.