We carried out this announced inspection on 12 October 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.

We told the NHS England Cheshire and Merseyside area team that we were inspecting the practice. We did not receive any information of concern from them.

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 Village Dental Practice is close to the centre of Ainsdale and provides dental care and treatment to adults and children on an NHS and privately funded basis.

The practice has a portable ramp available to facilitate access to the practice for wheelchair users. The practice has three treatment rooms. Car parking is available near the practice.

The dental team includes two principal dentists, a Foundation dentist, two dental hygiene therapists, six dental nurses, two of whom also carry out reception duties, and two receptionists. The team is supported by a practice manager.

The practice is owned by a partnership and as a condition of registration must have in place a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers have a 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 Village Dental Practice is one of the principal dentists.

We received feedback from 35 people during the inspection about the services provided. The feedback provided was positive about the practice.

During the inspection we spoke to three dentists, dental nurses, receptionists and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday 8.45am to 5.45pm

Tuesday 8.30am to 5.00pm

Wednesday and Thursday 8.45am to 7.00pm

Friday 8.15am to 4.00pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures in place which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medical emergency medicines and equipment were available.
• The practice had safeguarding processes in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• Staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• The practice had a procedure in place for dealing with complaints.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The appointment system took patients’ needs into account. Dedicated emergency appointments were available.
• The practice had a leadership structure. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked patients and staff for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice had systems in place to help them manage risk.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures in place. Evidence of qualifications was not requested from staff where relevant.

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

• Review the practice’s system for investigating and responding to incidents or significant events.
• Review the practice's recruitment procedures to ensure evidence of qualifications for new staff, where appropriate, is requested and available.

We were unable to speak to patients during this visit however an external survey was viewed. The responses to the survey in all areas of the survey were positive. Comments made included “I would recommend this dentist”, “they provide an excellent service”, “the care is personalised” and “they are good with children”.

Within the survey the practice was described as clean. The survey also confirmed that people were able to get emergency appointments when required and that they never waited too long to see the dentist at their appointments.