We carried out this announced inspection on 31 October 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 supported by a specialist dental adviser.

We told the NHS England area team and Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice. They did not provide information of any concern.

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

Stag Dental Care is in Rotherham and provides mainly private treatment to adults and children. There is also a small NHS contract in place for adults and children.

There is step access with handrails into the practice. Car parking spaces are available near the practice. A portable ramp is available to assist patients in accessing the practice.

The dental team includes a principal dentist, an associate dentist and a foundation training dentist. There is a practice manager, five dental nurses (one of whom is a trainee), a dental hygienist and a receptionist. The practice has three treatment rooms and an instrument decontamination room.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection we collected 38 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with three patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, three dental nurses, one receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday 9am - 8pm

Tuesday 9am – 6pm

Wednesday and Thursday 9am – 5:30pm

Friday 8am – 2pm

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. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available. A process could be implemented to monitor the temperature of the medicine fridge.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk. Dental materials identified under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations should be risk assessed.
• 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 efficiently.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Review the practice’s system for recording, investigating and reviewing incidents or significant events with a view to preventing further occurrences and ensuring that improvements are made as a result.
• Review the practice's products identified under Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) 2002 Regulations to ensure a risk assessment is undertaken.
• Review the storage of medical emergency medicines to ensure they are stored in line with the manufacturer’s guidance and if stored in the fridge that the temperature is monitored and recorded.