We carried out this announced inspection on 21 August 2018 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.

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

Stirchley Dental Practice is in Telford and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including three for blue badge holders, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes eight dentists, eleven dental nurses (one of whom is a trainee), three dental hygienists, one dental therapist, one practice manager and two receptionists. One of the dentists is registered as a specialist oral surgeon on the General Dental Council register. The practice has seven treatment rooms. The practice was being renovated at the time of our visit and an eighth treatment room was due to be operational in September 2018.

The practice is owned by a partnership and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 Stirchley Dental Practice was the senior partner. Details of the partnership had not been updated with the CQC since 2016 and information on the registration certificate was incorrect. This was highlighted to the registered manager and they informed us they would complete the necessary paperwork immediately.

On the day of inspection, we collected 12 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, one dental hygienist, two dental nurses, the registered manager and the practice manager. We also spoke with the clinical director of the organisation who was a qualified dentist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Friday.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained. We identified some defects in the flooring in two clinical areas and these were addressed promptly.
• 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.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures. One staff member did not have a risk assessment completed for when there was previously a gap in assurance regarding their immunity status.
• 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 practice was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
• 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.
• The practice had suitable information governance arrangements.

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

• Review the current staffing arrangements to ensure all dental care professionals are adequately supported by a trained member of the dental team when treating patients in a dental setting taking into account the guidance issued by the General Dental Council.