We carried out this announced inspection on 10 July 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

Coppull Dental Centre is in Coppull, a village near to Chorley, Lancashire, and provides private treatment for adults with some NHS provision for children.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking and public transport facilities are available nearby.

The dental team includes one dentist, four dental nurses (two of whom are trainees), two dental hygienists and a receptionist. The practice has two 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 11 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, two dental nurses, a dental hygienist and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday and Tuesday 8am to 5:30pm

Wednesday and Thursday 8am to 5pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The practice staff 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 staff had suitable safeguarding processes and knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had a recruitment procedure in place, we noted that not all staff records were in place and risk assessments had not been completed on staff who were awaiting completion of their DBS checks.
• 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. We saw that Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) was fitted within the premises but recognised guidance had not been adhered to.
• The practice was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• 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 staff dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Review the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure accurate, complete and detailed records are maintained for all staff and ensure risk assessments are completed for staff who are awaiting completion of their DBS checks.
• Review the practice's current performance review systems and have an effective process established for the on-going assessment and supervision of all staff.
• Review the practice’s protocols for the use of closed-circuit television cameras taking into account the guidelines published by the Information Commissioner's Office.

People told us they were very happy with the service they received at Coppull Dental Centre. They had their treatment discussed with them and they were given time to decide if they wanted to continue with the treatment. The appointment system was flexible.

Parents told us they were consulted over any proposed treatment for their children. Children told us they had their treatment explained to them and they were given advice on how to keep their teeth healthy.

Written comments from people included “I was extremely nervous but was immediately put at ease and constantly reassured by Mr Valentine and his friendly staff. The equipment was modern and the treatment pain free. I left the surgery with the work excellently done”. “I was treated with great kindness, understanding and patience”. People also told us “The staff are lovely, very pleasant”. “I travel quite a distance to come here, but I wouldn’t go anywhere else. I was terrified of dental visits. I feel comfortable here. Mr Valentine and the staff are lovely and help me feel at ease”.

Suitable arrangements were in place to protect people from abuse and the risk of abuse. Staff had appraisals and regular staff meetings with Mr Valentine. Staff said Mr Valentine was ‘first class’, and ‘on the ball’ when it comes to keeping up to date with best practice and current safe methods of working. Staff were suitably qualified.

People were protected from the risk of infection because appropriate guidance had been followed.