We carried out this announced inspection on 11 July 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 area team and Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice. They did not provide any information of concern.

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

Wood Dental Limited is in Mirfield, West Yorkshire and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. The practice has a car park which has one parking space reserved for patients with a disabled badge.

The dental team includes six dentists (two of whom are foundation dentists), six dental nurses (two of whom are trainees), three dental hygienists, three receptionists and a practice manager (who is also a qualified dental nurse). The practice has five treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a company 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 Wood Dental Limited was the practice owner.

On the day of inspection we received feedback from 32 patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

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

The practice is open:

Monday to Wednesday from 9:00am to 6:00pm

Thursday from 9:00am to 8:00pm

Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm

Saturday from 9:00am to 12:30pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice’s decontamination procedures could be improved.
• 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 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 appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

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

• Review the practice’s system for the recording and investigating incidents or significant events.
• Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.

During our inspection of this service, we were able to speak with three people who told us they were very satisfied with the quality of services provided. Staff put them at ease, explained the care and treatment required including costs in order for each of them to make informed choices. They were treated with respect; staff were polite, professional and friendly.