We carried out this announced inspection on 28 January 2019 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 Dental House is in Worksop, Nottinghamshire and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.

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

The dental team includes two dentists, nine dental nurses (one of whom is a trainee) one dental hygienist, two dental hygiene therapists and a receptionist. The team is supported by a manager and the practice has four treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a partnership 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 Dental House is the one of the principal dentists.

On the day of inspection, we collected 48 CQC comment cards filled in by patients, all of which were positive.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, four dental nurses, one dental hygiene therapist, the receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday 9am to 7pm

Tuesday 8:30am to 6pm

Wednesday 8:30am to 5pm

Thursday 9am to 6pm

Friday 8:30am to 1pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The provider 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 risks to patients and staff.
• The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider 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.
• Staff were providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.

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

• Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment taking into account guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society.
• Review the practice’s protocols for ensuring that all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases.

As part of our inspection we spoke with a number of people who used the service, we spoke with the registered provider, practice manager and staff. We looked at patient records and observed the running of the service.

We spoke with three people who had appointments at the dentist on the day of our inspection.

The people we spoke with talked positively about their experience.

Comments included, “The staff are polite and respectful. I have been coming to this practice for many years and the staff are friendly and welcoming.” And “You are put at ease the dentist tells you what they are going to do.”