We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 30 June 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

Rainford Orthodontic Practice is situated in the village of Rainford, St Helens and provides mainly specialist orthodontic NHS treatment to children and young adults and some private treatment to patients of all ages. Orthodontics is specialist dental treatment which corrects irregularities in the alignment of the teeth in order to improve the position, appearance and function of the teeth. The practice accepts referrals from dentists and self-referrals from patients currently attending a dentist.

The practice has two treatment rooms, a reception and waiting area, a dedicated decontamination room for cleaning, sterilising and packing dental instruments and an X-ray room. The building is single storey and is accessible to patients with limited mobility and wheelchair users. Disabled parking is available outside the premises.

The practice is staffed by a principal specialist orthodontist who is also the owner and an associate specialist orthodontist, a senior dental nurse who is also the practice manager, two orthodontic therapists, four dental nurses and a receptionist. The practice is open from 9.00am until 5.15pm each Thursday and from 9.00am until 5.00pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

We viewed 27 CQC comment cards that had been left for patients to complete, prior to our visit, about the services provided. In addition we spoke with four patients on the day of our inspection. We reviewed patient feedback gathered by the practice through patient surveys and comments from the NHS Friends and Family Test. Feedback from patients was overwhelmingly positive about the care they received from the practice. They commented staff were caring, respectful and they had confidence in the dental services provided.

Our key findings were

• The practice had systems to assess and manage risks to patients, including infection prevention and control, health and safety, safeguarding, recruitment and the management of medical emergencies.
• The practice had effective clinical governance and risk management structures in place. There were systems to monitor and continually improve the quality of the service; including a programme of clinical and non-clinical audits.
• The practice had a system in place for reporting incidents which the practice used for shared learning.

• Strong and effective leadership was provided by the principal dentist and an empowered practice manager.

• Specialist orthodontic dental care was provided in accordance with current legislation, standards and guidance.
• Patients could access treatment and urgent and emergency care when required. There were clear instructions for patients regarding out of hours care.
• Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and were supported in their continued professional development (CPD) by the practice owners and practice manager.
• Staff we spoke with felt well supported by the practice owner and practice manager.