Updated 30 June 2023
We carried out this announced comprehensive inspection on 5 June 2023 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 practice was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations.
The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector who was supported by a specialist dental advisor.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following 5 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:
- The premises appeared visibly clean and well-maintained.
- The service had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies and had access to protocols to follow in event of a medical emergency.
- The service had systems to help them manage risk to people using the service, staff equipment and the premises.
- Safeguarding processes were in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
- The clinical team prescribed and reviewed treatment in line with current guidelines.
- People receiving treatments were treated with dignity and respect and staff took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
- The appointment system worked efficiently to respond to peoples’ needs.
- There were systems to monitor treatment outcomes.
- There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- Staff and people using the service were asked for feedback about the services provided.
- Complaints were dealt with positively and efficiently.
- The service had information governance arrangements.
Background
Impress Sheffield is part of Impress, a dental group provider. This report is about Impress Sheffield.
The practice provides private direct-to-consumer teeth aligner therapy for adults and children over the age of 13 years.
There is step free access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice. The practice has made reasonable adjustments to support patients with access requirements.
The dental team includes a dentist, 2 dental nurses, a patient manager and a clinic manager.
A team of dentists and specialist orthodontists who work remotely also assist the on-site dentist to determine the suitability of the aligner treatment. For example, by reviewing oral scans and other information provided.
The practice has 2 treatment rooms.
During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, 2 dental nurses, the clinic manager and the registered manager. We looked at practice policies, procedures and other records to assess how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 6pm
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Take action to implement any recommendations in the practice's Legionella risk assessment, taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices.