Updated 19 February 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 21 January 2020 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 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
Western Bank Dental Care is close to the centre of Sheffield. The practice provides private dental care for adults and children.
The provider has a lift available to facilitate access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and for people with pushchairs.
Dedicated car parking is available outside the practice.
The dental team includes six dentists, a visiting specialist in oral surgery, a dental hygiene therapist, a dental hygienist, six dental nurses and four receptionists. The dental team is supported by a practice manager. The practice has three 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 Western Bank Dental Care is the practice manager.
We received feedback from three people during the inspection about the services provided. The feedback provided was positive.
During the inspection we spoke to a dentist, dental nurses, receptionists 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 9.00am to 7.00pm
Friday 9.00am to 4.00pm
Saturday 9.30am to 5.00pm
Sunday 10.00am to 2.00pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice was clean and well maintained.
- Staff followed infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- The provider had safeguarding procedures in place and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
- Staff knew how to deal with medical emergencies. Appropriate medicines and equipment were available.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures in place.
- Staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
- The dental team provided preventive care and supported patients to achieve better oral health.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- The provider had a procedure in place for handling complaints. The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The practice had a leadership and management structure and a culture of continuous improvement.
- The provider had systems in place to manage risk at the practice.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- The provider had systems to support the management and delivery of the service, to support governance and to guide staff.
- The practice asked patients and staff for feedback about the services they provided.