Updated 15 August 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 10 July 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
Retford Dental Care Limited is in Retford and provides mainly NHS and some private treatment to adults and children. The practice is an approved foundation dentist training practice. Foundation training practices have been approved by the dental deanery to provide training and support to newly qualified dentists.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice in several local car parks.
The dental team includes two principal dentists and eight associate dentists (one of whom is a foundation dentist) and two dental hygiene therapists. There are 11 dental nurses (one is the lead dental nurse and four are trainee dental nurses). The practice is supported by an assistant manager and a practice manager. The practice has six treatment rooms, an oral health education room and an instrument decontamination room.
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 Retford Dental Care Limited is one of the principal dentists.
On the day of inspection, we collected four CQC comment cards filled in by patients. All comments reflected positively on the service provided.
During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, three dental nurses, the assistant 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, Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 6pm
Wednesday 8am to 8pm
Friday 8:30am to 5pm
Saturday 8am to 1pm
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. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The provider 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.
- Staff provided preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- The provider had effective leadership.
- Improvements could be made to enhance the culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practice’s protocols to ensure that, where appropriate, audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.
- Review the practice’s protocols and procedures in relation to the Accessible Information Standard to ensure that that the requirements are complied with.