We carried out this announced inspection on 12 February 2019 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 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 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

Cheadle Heath Dental Practice is in Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire and provides predominantly NHS treatment to adults and children. Some private treatment is available.

There is level access to the ground floor via a portable ramp, for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes four dentists, six dental nurses, one dental hygienist, one dental hygiene therapist and two receptionists. The practice has four treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a partnership 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 Cheadle Heath Dental Practice is the principal dentist who is one of the partners.

On the day of inspection, we collected 46 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with one other patient. All feedback was highly positive. We also received feedback from patients prior to our inspection, through a feedback webform on the Care Quality Commission website, which patients can complete. This was also universally positive feedback.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, one dental nurse, one dental hygiene therapist, and one receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open Monday to Thursday, from 9am to 12.30pm, and from 2pm to 5.30pm. On Friday the practice is open from 8.30am to 12pm and from 1pm to 4.30pm. On Saturday the practice is open from 9am to 12.30pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was 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 practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. The practice computer system highlighted those patients who may require more oversight by the dentists.
• The provider had thorough staff recruitment procedures in place.
• 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 were providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs; where patients failed to attend appointments, dentists worked hard with them to encourage and facilitate attendance to receive treatment.
• The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well 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 suitable information governance arrangements.