Updated 21 September 2021
We carried out this announced inspection on 6 September 2021 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 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 well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Alex Jones Dentistry Limited is in Barnsley and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
Access to the practice reception and waiting area is at ground floor level; the treatment rooms are all on the first floor. People who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs are asked to access the first floor via the health centre lift behind the practice. Car parking spaces are available near the practice in local car parks.
The dental team includes three dentists, seven dental nurses who also cover reception duties, a dedicated receptionist, two dental hygiene therapists and a practice manager. The practice has two 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 Alex Jones Dentistry Limited is the practice manager.
During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, three dental nurses, one dental hygiene therapist 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 10am to 7pm.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:30am to 5pm.
Friday 9am to 3pm.
Our key findings were:
- 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 clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
- There was no system in place to monitor and track referrals to other healthcare professionals.
- 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.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked 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 information governance arrangements.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Implement a system to ensure patient referrals to other dental or health care professionals are centrally monitored to ensure they are received in a timely manner and not lost.