Updated 1 February 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 7 January 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
Clove House Dental Care is in Corsham and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.
The practice is not accessible to people who find steps a barrier but signposts them toa nearby practice which is accessible. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.
The dental team includes four dentists, three dental nurses and two trainee dental nurses who also have reception duties, one dental hygienist, an assistant manager and a business 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 Clove House Dental Care is the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection, we collected five CQC comment cards filled in by patients and obtained the views of six other patients.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses, two trainee dental nurses, the business manager and the assistant managers. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 08.00-17.30
Wednesday 08.00-20.00
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- 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 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 had suitable information governance arrangements.
- The provider did not have thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available with the exception of a few items.
- The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and, although not all staff had completed relevant training, the majority of them knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance, with the exception of the validation frequency of the ultrasonic bath.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’ In particular the validation frequency of the ultrasonic bath.
- Review the practice's recruitment procedures to ensure that appropriate checks are completed prior to new staff commencing employment at the practice.
- Review the practice’s protocols for ensuring that all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases.
- Review the practice's protocols and procedures to ensure staff are up to date with their mandatory training and their continuing professional development.