We carried out this announced inspection on 17 July 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

Tawstock Dental Surgery is in Teignmouth and provides private treatment to adults and children.

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

The dental team includes one dentist, two dental nurses, one receptionist and a practice manager. The practice has two treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a company 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 Tawstock Dental Surgery was the dentist.

On the day of inspection we collected 26 CQC comment cards filled in by patients, received 21 on-line feedback comments from patients and spoke with two other patients. This gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with the whole staff team. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Mon (alternate) 9am – 5pm/closed. Tue 9am – 5pm. Wed 9am – 6pm. Thu 9am – 6pm and Fri (alternate) 9am – 1pm/9am – 5pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The practice staff 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 staff had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had suitable 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 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 had not received any complaints in the last 12 months.
• The practice staff had suitable information governance arrangements.

We identified an area of notable practice.

One of the dental nurses had developed pictorial aids for patients with learning disabilities. A range of laminated pictorial cards regarding dental treatment and oral health education had been used for several years. Staff said this helped improve cooperation with dental treatment and allowed patients with learning disabilities to express their own personal needs and preferences. This showed a commitment to be accessible and responsive to patients with additional communication needs.