We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 10 October 2018 to ask the service the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this service was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found that this service was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services caring?

We found that this service was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

We found that this service was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found that this service was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the service was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Our key findings were:

• The service had clear systems to manage risk so that safety incidents were less likely to happen. When incidents did happen, the service learned from them and improved their processes.
• The service routinely reviewed the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care it provided. It ensured that care and treatment was delivered according to evidence-based guidelines.
• Staff involved and treated patients with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
• Patients found the service accessible and responsive to their needs. The service was adaptable and flexible in dealing with individual circumstances.
• Complaints were investigated and responded to in line with guidance, although verbal interactions were not documented.
• There was a strong focus on continuous learning and improvement at all levels of the organisation.

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

• Ensure the safeguarding children policy and process is embedded.
• Review complaints processes to include verbal interactions and document them according to guidance.

Our inspection consisted of a location visit on the first day and telephone interviews of patients who used the service on the second day.

We spoke to seven patients about their respect and dignity when they used the service. All of the people we spoke with reported no concerns and were complimentary in their feedback.

The patients we spoke with were satisfied with their procedure outcomes. For example, one patient reported, "The service was so good I wrote in to say thank you and how pleased I was". Another patient we spoke with told us, "Outstanding" and a third patient stated, "I would recommend (the service)".

There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. Patients were given information about how to prepare for the surgery and prevent infections prior to attending their appointment.

Appropriate checks were undertaken before staff began work. We looked at three employee files. Staff recruitment records we looked at showed proper procedures had been followed.

Patients we talked with spoke highly of the service and indicated their opinions were taken on board in the day to day delivery of procedures. Patients we spoke with had only compliments to make about Thames Valley Vasectomy Services.