Updated 7 April 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 9 March 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 registered provider 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 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 this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services effective?
We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services caring?
We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services responsive?
We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Tamworth House Dental Practice is in the town centre of Tamworth, Staffordshire and provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
There is level access at the rear of the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes seven dentists, four qualified dental nurses, two trainee dental nurses, one dental hygienist, one receptionist and the practice manager. The practice has four treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC 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 Tamworth House Dental Practice is the practice manager.
On the day of inspection, we collected 85 CQC comment cards.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses, one receptionist, the practice manager and the company compliance lead. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm.
Our key findings were:
- Strong and effective leadership was provided by the practice manager. Staff felt involved and supported and informed us this was a good place to work.
- There was an effective staffing structure which extended to senior management who were visible and supported the practice manager on the day of our visit by basing themselves at the practice.
- As part of a corporate organisation the practice was supported further by staff based at the provider’s head office.
- The practice appeared to be visibly 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 safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation. The practice had access to support from a dedicated human resources and recruitment team based within the company’s support centre.
- 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 supported 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.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider had information governance arrangements.