We carried out a comprehensive inspection at this practice on 21 August 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.

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

The Briars Dental Practice is in Dudley and provides NHS treatment to patients of all ages.

Access to the front of the building is via a few steps. We were told that staff provide assistance to people with mobility difficulties and those who attend with small children in pushchairs. Eight car parking spaces are available at the practice. Some unrestricted on street parking is also available within a short walk of the practice.

The dental team includes five dentists, four dental nurses, one orthodontic therapist and two receptionists. The practice has three treatment rooms, two of which are on the ground floor and one on the first floor. There is a reception and waiting room on the ground floor.

The practice is owned by a partner 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 The Briars Dental Practice is one of the partners and was not present during this inspection visit.

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

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, one dental nurse, two receptionists and two members of staff from head office. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: 8.30am to 5pm on Wednesdays, 8.30am to 5.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 9am to 1pm on Saturday.

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 were available which were checked on a regular basis.
• 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.
• 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 their responsibilities to the needs of people with a disability, including those with hearing difficulties and the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.