Alpha Dental Studio Great Ayton

We carried out this announced inspection on 3 June 2019 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

Alpha Dental Studio Great Ayton is part of the Alpha dental group and is based in the centre of the village of Great Ayton. The practice provides mainly NHS dental treatment to adults and children with some private options for patients. Parking is available outside the practice with access to public transport nearby.

The practice is based on the first floor. Access is not possible for people who use wheelchairs or who have limited mobility. Alternative dental practices with disabled access are available nearby.

The dental team includes five dentists (one of whom is a foundation training dentist), six dental nurses/receptionists and a practice manager. The practice has three treatment rooms and a decontamination room.

The practice is owned by a partnership 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 Alpha Dental Studio Great Ayton is the operations manager for the group.

On the day of inspection, we collected 74 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. All the comment cards were extremely positive about the service and care received.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, four dental nurses, registered manager 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 Thursday 8.30am to 5.15pm and Friday 8.30am-4.15pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies.
• The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures in place.
• 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.
• Staff were providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The provider asked patients for feedback about the services they provided.