We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 19 July 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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

Alpha Dental Studio Catterick, North Yorkshire is part of the Alpha Dental group. It is a NHS and private dental practice which offers private dental payment plans. The practice offers dental treatments including dental implants, endodontics, cosmetic dental treatment, orthodontic clear braces and conscious sedation.

The practice has five surgeries, two on the ground floor and three on the first floor, a decontamination room, two waiting areas, a reception area and patient toilets. There are staff facilities on the second floor of the premises.

There are seven dentists (one of which is a foundation training dentist), one dental hygiene therapist, five dental nurses (one of which is a trainee) a practice manager and an operations manager.

The opening hours are:

Monday – Friday 08:30 – 17:30 and open until 20:00 on a Wednesday by appointment only.

The operations manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection we received 18 CQC comment cards providing feedback and spoke with six patients. The patients who provided feedback were very positive about the care and attention to treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be welcoming, patient, friendly and caring. Patients commented they could access emergency care easily and they were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and tidy environment.

Our key findings were:

• Staff had received safeguarding training, knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report it. They had very good systems in place to work closely and share information with the local safeguarding team.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to manage medical emergencies.
• Patient care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current regulations.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• There was a complaints system in place. Staff recorded complaints and cascaded learning to staff.
• The governance systems were effective.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services. There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review the practice’s sharps procedures giving due regard to the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.

People told us that they were always consulted about the options available to them and given information to help them make decisions about their treatment. People said that they were happy with the care and treatment they received, and were treated well by the staff. Comments made to us by people who used the service included ‘she went through every option with me and I went away for a few days and decided what I wanted’, ‘always very thorough’ and ‘always ask how you are, during and after it, make sure you are alright’. Treatment records showed that people’s treatment was appropriately planned and recorded.

Suitable arrangements were in place to provide emergency first aid and resuscitation if needed. Procedures were also in place to ensure that equipment was appropriately decontaminated and sterilised. Staff were able to describe these arrangements clearly and had been appropriately trained in the prevention of infection and first aid. Comments made to us by people who used the service included ‘always clean and tidy’ and ‘always wash their hands and wear the mask things’.

Information on making complaints was available to people who used the service. People said they would feel able to raise any concerns with staff. Records showed that any complaints had been responded to appropriately.