We carried out this announced inspection on 16 May 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 had access to specialist dental advice remotely.

We told the NHS England area team and Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice. They did not provide any information.

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

Oasis Dental Care Southern – Plymstock is in Plymstock and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages. We were told that 75% of the work was private and 25% was NHS.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces for patients with disabled badges are available at the practice. There is also a free public car park nearby.

The dental team includes nine dentists, seven dental nurses, three trainee dental nurses, three dental hygienists, four receptionists and a practice manager. The practice has seven 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 Oasis Dental Care Southern – Plymstock was the practice manager.

On the day of inspection we collected 15 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with four dentists, four dental nurses, two trainee dental nurses, one dental hygienist, one receptionist, the practice manager and the company area compliance officer. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday to Thursday 8am – 7pm. Friday 8am – 5pm.

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 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 toured the premises, spoke with six people who were attending for examination or treatment, met with the registered manager and six staff and looked at care records, policies and training records.

People who spoke with us were pleased with the service. People said the staff were “very helpful and polite.” One person told us “I’ve got quite a rapport with my dentist.” Another said, “I had a big dental operation and found the practice was very supportive throughout the entire treatment process.”

One person told us they were most impressed by the thoroughness of their examination, as the dentist had thoroughly examined the health of the whole of their mouth as well as their teeth.

Staff told us that they felt supported, with opportunities for training and development.

We saw that the premises were clean and tidy throughout. We looked at the procedures in place for ensuring that instruments were clean and safe to use, and found that there were effective systems in place to maintain cleanliness.