We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 9 January 2017 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

Sheffield Practice Limited is situated in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The practice offers privately funded dental treatments. The services include preventative advice and treatment, routine restorative dental care and dental implants.

The practice has two surgeries, a decontamination room, an X-ray room, a waiting area and a reception area. All of the facilities are on one floor of the premises along with accessible toilet facilities. There is parking available on site.

There is one dentist, four dental nurses (some of whom also cover reception duties) and a visiting specialist. There is a practice manager but they were currently on long term sick leave.

The opening hours are Monday and Tuesday 8-30am to 5-30pm, Wednesday and Thursday 8-30am to 7-30pm, Friday 8-30am to 1-30pm and Saturday 8-30am to 3-00pm.

The principal dentist 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.

During the inspection we received feedback from 15 patients. The patients were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. Comments included staff were polite, helpful and reassuring. They also commented the premises were clean and tidy.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was visibly clean and uncluttered.
• Staff were qualified and had received training appropriate to their roles.
• Patients were involved in making decisions about their treatment and were given clear explanations about their proposed treatment including costs, benefits and risks.
• Dental care records showed 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).
• We observed patients were treated with kindness and respect by staff.
• Staff ensured there was sufficient time to explain fully the care and treatment they were providing in a way patients understood.
• The practice had a complaints system in place and there was an openness and transparency in how these were dealt with.
• Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed.
• The governance systems were effective.
• There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice and staff told us they felt supported, appreciated and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.
• A system for checking and disposing of out of date stock was in place but this was not effective.

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

• Review availability and checking of equipment to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team.
• Review the system for identifying and disposing of out-of-date antibiotics.
• Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment giving due regard to guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society.
• Review the practice’s vulnerable adult safeguarding policy ensuring it includes contacts for the local adult safeguarding team.
• Review the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure practice specific Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are sought at the point of employment.
• Review the protocols and procedures to ensure the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) audit is completed on a bi-annual basis.

People told us that staff explained all the procedures and treatments to them and respected their decisions about their treatment and care. One person said "the dentist explains everything, gives me options there is no rush.”

People who used the service told us they were happy with the care and treatment they received at the practice. One person said "they are extremely good, best treatment and dentist I’ve had.”

We asked three people if they felt safe at the service. Everyone said "Yes" and one person added "they feel in safe hands and trusts them (the staff)."

We found people received care and treatment in a clean environment with infection control measures in place to minimise the risk of infection. People we spoke with told us the unit was always clean and tidy. One person told us the surgery was “spick and span.”

The provider had an appropriate system in place for gathering, recording and evaluating information about the quality and safety of care the service provides. People who used the service and their representatives were asked for their views about their care and treatment.