We carried out this announced inspection on 10 March 2018 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 second dentally qualified inspector.

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

Urban Dental is in Salford and provides private treatment to adults.

The practice is located in high street premises. There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including for blue badge holders, are available at the rear of the practice.

The dental team includes one dentist and one dental nurse. The provider receives additional support from a practice manager at another dental practice where they work during the week. The practice has one treatment room which is on the ground floor.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection we spoke with three patients. Patients were positive about all aspects of the service the practice provided.

During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, the dental nurse and the supporting practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open by prior appointment on Saturdays only.

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 and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk. The risks relating to fire safety had not been appropriately assessed.
• 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 practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice had a complaints procedure which was readily available to patients.

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

• Review the process for ensuring that fire detection and firefighting equipment are serviced and checked appropriately.

• Review the practice’s sharps procedures giving due regard to the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.

• Review the practice’s audit protocols for radiography to help improve the quality of service. Practice should also check all audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.

• Review the process for ensuring the medical emergency kit reflects current guidance.