We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 24 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

Woodhouse Dental Practice provides NHS and private treatment for both adults and children. The practice is based in the area of Woodhouse in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

The practice has four dental treatment rooms, a decontamination suite, reception area, two waiting rooms and a large staff room. The reception area, three treatment rooms and one waiting area are on the ground floor. The other treatment room and the second waiting area are on the first floor. There are accessible toilet facilities on the ground floor.

There are five dentists (one is a foundation dentist), one dental hygienist/therapist, six dental nurses (two are trainees), two receptionists and a practice manager.

The practice’s opening hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 9-00am to 5-40pm and Tuesday from 9-00am to 6-40pm.

The principal dentist 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.

During the inspection we received feedback from 46 patients. The patients were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. Comments included staff were caring, pleasant and helpful. They also commented the practice as clean and tidy and they were given a good explanation of treatment and why it was needed.

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Our key findings were:

• The practice was visibly clean and uncluttered.
• The practice had systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• Staff were qualified and had received training appropriate to their roles.
• Patients were involved in making decisions about their treatment and were given clear explanations about their proposed treatment including costs, benefits and risks.
• Dental care records showed treatment was planned in line with current best practice guidelines.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• We observed patients were treated with kindness and respect by staff.
• Staff ensured there was sufficient time to explain fully the care and treatment they were providing in a way patients understood.
• The practice had a complaints system in place.
• Patients were able to make routine and emergency appointments when needed.
• The governance systems were effective.
• There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice and staff told us they felt supported, appreciated and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions.

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

• Review the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure a new Disclosure and Barring Services check is carried out at the point of employment.
• Review the practice’s audit protocols to ensure they are practitioner specific.