We carried out this announced inspection on 12 March 2018 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

Confidental Health Ltd is in Sheffield and provides private treatment to adults and children.

There is level access at the rear of the premises for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes one dentist, three dental nurses (one of whom is on maternity leave and one is a locum), one dental hygiene therapist, one receptionist/patient care co-ordinator and a practice manager (who is also the co-director). The practice has one treatment room.

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 Confidental Health Ltd was the principal dentist.

On the day of inspection, we spoke with one patient. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with the dentist, two dental nurses, the receptionist/patient care co-ordinator 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 from 8:30am to 8pm

Thursday from 8:30am to 5:30pm

(emergency appointments can be arranged out of normal working hours)

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 staff recruitment procedures. Minor improvements could be made to the recruitment process.
• 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 patients for feedback about the services they provided.

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

• Review the protocol for completing accurate, complete and detailed records relating to employment of staff. This includes obtaining Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and evidence of immunity of Hepatitis B.
• Review the process for ensuring the medical emergency medicines and equipment reflect current guidance.