We carried out this announced inspection on 4 July 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 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

Village Dental Practice is in Kinver and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children. There are two services provided by two different providers at this location. This report only relates to the provision of general dental care provided by Dr Navdeep Sunner. An additional report is available in respect of the orthodontic contract which is registered under the provider Dr Preshaan Sitlu.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including spaces for blue badge holders, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes two dentists, an orthodontist, a visiting implantologist, one dental hygienist, three dental nurses (one of whom also works on reception), one receptionist and a practice manager. The practice has two treatment rooms.

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 collected 22 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, the orthodontist, three dental nurses (one of whom also works on reception), the dental hygienist 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 to Friday 8.30am to 5pm.

One Saturday a month 9am to 12.30pm for private appointments only.

Our key findings were:

• Effective leadership was provided by the principal dentist and an empowered practice manager. Staff we spoke with felt involved and supported by the principal dentist and practice manager and were committed to providing a quality service to their patients.
• The practice appeared clean and well maintained. Recent improvements to the practice included new flooring and general redecorating. One of the treatment rooms, the decontamination room and the reception area had also been refurbished.
• 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 risk to patients and staff. At the time of our inspection the practice did not have a detailed sharps risk assessment or lone workers risk assessment. These were sent to us following the inspection.
• The practice staff 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.
• The provider was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs. Patients could access treatment and emergency care when required.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided. Results from feedback were analysed and displayed in the waiting room.
• The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.