We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 15 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

Rounds Hill House Dental Practice is a practice that provides NHS dental treatment to both adults and children. Approximately 85% of the treatments are provided to NHS patients. The practice is situated in converted premises on the outskirts of Bracknell. The practice has four dental treatment rooms and each contains its own facilities for decontamination of dental instruments. There are two treatment rooms on the ground floor and two on the first floor.

The practice is owned by two partner dentists who both work at the practice. They employ two dentists, four dental nurses and a dental nurse in training. The clinical team are supported by a team of three reception staff and two administration staff. Three part time dental hygienists work at the practice and they are self-employed.

The practice is open between 8am and 7pm on a Monday and Tuesday, 8am to 5.45pm on Wednesday and Thursday and 8am to 5.30pm on a Friday. A Saturday morning service is available between 8am and 1pm.

The partners are responsible for the day to day activities of the practice. One of them, 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.

Before the inspection we sent Care Quality Commission comment cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice. We collected 24 completed cards and obtained the views of five patients on the day of our visit. All the patients who offered their feedback on the service were positive both about the care they received and on the access they had to the service. Many patients commented on how thorough the dentists were in their examinations. They also commented that all the dentists and staff were kind, helpful, polite and professional.

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 15 March 2016 as part of our planned inspection of all dental practices. Our inspection was carried out by a lead inspector and a dental specialist adviser.

The practice had been inspected before in 2013 using a different inspection process and regulations that have been superseded.

Our key findings from our inspection in March 2016 were:

• Staff had been trained to handle emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment was readily available in accordance with current guidelines

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with general professional and other published guidance.
• The practice was visibly clean and well maintained and infection control procedures were appropriate and followed published guidelines.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice and the practice completed the mandatory audits for infection control and radiography.
• Staff received training relevant to their roles and were supported in their continuing professional development.
• Appropriate arrangements were in place to protect patients from the risks posed by exposure to x-rays.

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

• Gain access to NHS Choices website and respond to patient comments recorded there.

We spoke with five people who were using the service at the time of our inspection. They told us they were satisfied with the service provided and felt staff were well trained and professional. People told us the dentists provided details of the various treatment choices and explained the costs involved. They said the dentists provided clear treatment plans. One person told us "I’ve been coming here for ten years. I’ve always found them very good. They always explain everything." People told us they felt the practice gave them sufficient information to inform their decisions. Patients told us they were always asked to consent to treatment.

We saw people's medical and dental health needs were accurately documented in their records and their medical history was updated at each visit.

We found the practice to be clean and satisfactorily maintained. Staff were following effective infection control procedures. When we spoke with people using the service one person said: "It’s always clean and fresh. Staff always wear clean uniforms.”

The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people received. During our visit we saw evidence that the practice was undertaking regular audits and acting on the outcome.

Staff told us they felt well supported by management and were offered appropriate training. Staff attended regular practice meetings and 'lunch and learn' training sessions.