We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 28 November 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

Located in Padiham, The Terrace Dental Practice provides mainly NHS routine and preventative dental care services to adults and children. The practice also provides private dental treatment. The dental team includes three dentists, supported by five dental nurses and two receptionists. The practice had been adapted to accommodate the needs of patients with a disability, including a ground floor surgery. The practice is a member of the BDA good practice scheme. Parking is available close by.

The practice is open Monday to Thursday from 08:30 to 17:00 and Friday from 08:30 to 15:30. It closes for lunch each day from 13:00 to 14:00.

The practice owner 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.

We reviewed 16 CQC comment cards on the day of our visit; patients were extremely positive about the staff and standard of care provided by the practice. Patients commented that they felt involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be helpful, respectful, friendly and were treated in a clean and tidy environment.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had a proactive approach to governance and quality assurance.
• The practice used the outcome of audit and incidents to make improvements to the service.
• The practice was well organised, visibly clean and free from clutter.
• An infection prevention and control policy was in place. Sterilisation procedures followed Department of Health guidance.
• The practice had systems for recording incidents and accidents.
• Practice meetings were used for shared learning and to discuss the outcome of audit.
• The practice had a safeguarding policy and staff were aware on how to escalate safeguarding issues for children and adults should the need arise.
• Staff received annual medical emergency training. Equipment for dealing with medical emergencies reflected guidance from the resuscitation council (UK).
• Dental professionals provided treatment in accordance with current professional guidelines.
• Patient feedback was regularly sought and reflected upon.
• Patients could access urgent care when required.
• Dental professionals were maintaining their continued professional development (CPD) in accordance with their professional registration.
• Complaints were dealt with in an efficient and sensitive manner.
• The practice was actively involved in promoting oral health.

People using the service made positive comments about the care and treatment they received at the Terrace Dental Practice. Two people told us, “It’s absolutely marvellous a well planned cracking practice“ and ”I am very happy with the service”.

People told us they were involved in making decisions about their care and treatment. They said they had access to written information about the services provided at the practice and they had an awareness of how to make a complaint.

People told us they were treated with respect when they visited the practice. They said staff were friendly and polite. They considered they received good treatment and had no trouble when making appointments.

People had no concerns about their safety and wellbeing when attending appointments.