We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 25 August 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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 practice provides private treatment only to patients of all ages in the Burley and Wharfedale area and beyond.

The dental practice has treatment rooms on the ground and first floor. They have a reception and waiting area and a separate decontamination room and accessible toilet facilities on the ground floor. There is public parking available adjacent to the practice.

The practice has three dentists, two dental hygienist, practice manager (who is also a qualified dental nurse) and three dental nurses (one qualified and two trainee dental nurses).

The practice is open Monday – Thursday 8:30am - 5:30pm, Friday 8:30am-4:00pm and one Saturday in every four weeks 8:30am- 1pm.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

Before the inspection we sent CQC comment cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice. We received feedback from 17 patients which all gave positive comments about the caring treatment and professionalism of the staff. Many of the responses were positive about the reassuring manner of the staff who helped them feel at ease.

Our key findings were:

• Staff had received safeguarding training, knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it. They had systems in place to work closely and share information with the local safeguarding team.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff were qualified and had received training appropriate to their roles.
• Treatment was provided in line with current guidelines including the Faculty of General Dental Practice (FGDP) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• The practice had systems to assess and manage risks to patients, including infection prevention and control and health and safety.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• We observed that patients were treated with kindness and respect by staff. Staff ensured there was sufficient time to explain fully the care and treatment they were providing in a way patients understood.
• Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed. The practice had a complaints system in place and there was an openness and transparency in how these were dealt with.
• There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice and staff told us that they felt supported and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.

We found that people were given appropriate information and were involved in making decisions about their treatment. People were protected from the risk of infection because appropriate guidance had been followed. People were cared for by staff who were supported to deliver care and treatment safely and to an appropriate standard and there was an effective complaints system available.

During our visit we spoke with two people who used the service. They both told us they were happy with treatment they received. One person said they received “a personal and considerate service”. Another person said “the service is excellent”. Both people told us they found the staff, friendly, respectful and polite. One person said, “staff are superb”. Another person said “staff listen to what I want and help put me at ease”.