We carried out this announced inspection on 25 July 2017 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 second inspector.

We told the NHS England area team that we were inspecting the practice. We did not receive any information of concern from them.

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

Bosden Farm Dental Practice is in Offerton, Stockport and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children. There are dentists who are specialists in periodontics, orthodontics and prosthodontics and the practice accepted private referrals for these services.

The practice is located in a parade of shops. There is a portable ramp for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including for patients with disabled badges are available to the side of the practice.

The dental team includes seven dentists (one of which is a foundation dentist), five dental nurses one of which is a trainee), a dental hygiene therapist and a receptionist. The practice has three treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They 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 collected 22 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists (one of which was the foundation dentist) and three dental nurses (including the trainee). We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Pre-booked Saturday appointments are also available.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• 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.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

We identified areas of notable practice through visible leadership within the practice. Staff felt empowered, were happy and confident in their roles. Examples of this include:

• The practice had introduced Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events, particularly in periodontal care, which other local dentists were invited to attend at no charge. Attendees had rated these events highly and were invited to suggest subjects for future events.

• The practice had responded after a recent medical emergency occurred in the local estate by re-locating their Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on the outside wall of the premises to be an emergency resource for the community which was welcomed by local residents.