We carried out this announced inspection on 21 September 2017 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 remotely supported by a specialist dental adviser.

We told the NHS England area team and Health Watch that we were inspecting the practice. We did not receive any information of concern from them.

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

Stacksteads Dental Practice is based in Bacup, Lancashire and provides both NHS and private treatment for adults and children.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available outside the practice.

The practice has four treatment rooms.

The dental team includes three dentists, five dental nurses (two of whom are trainees) and, a dental hygienist. The administrative team consists of the practice manager, assistant practice manger and two receptionists.

The practice is owned by a partnership and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run. The registered manager at Stacksteads Dental Practice was one of the partners and also the principal dentist.

On the day of inspection we collected 48 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a very positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with the partner dentists, practice manager, an associate dentist, dental hygienist and a dental nurse. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday 8:45am-7pm –Tuesday and Wednesday 8:45am-5:30pm,

Thursday 8:45am -7:30pm  Friday 8:45am -1pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was 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. Equipment was regularly reviewed for safety but we found that the electrical and gas safety certificates required updating.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. 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 dealt with complaints positively and efficient.

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

• Review the systems for checking and monitoring electrical and gas equipment taking into account current national guidance.