We carried out this announced inspection on 15 June 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

Droylsden Road Dental Practice is in Newton Heath and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. There is one accessible parking space at the rear of the premises for blue badge holders. On street parking is available near the practice.

The dental team includes four dentists (one of whom is a foundation dentist), seven dental nurses (two of whom are trainees) who also work on reception, and a practice manager. The practice has four treatment rooms. Droylsden Road Dental Practice is a foundation training practice. Dental foundation training is a post-qualification training period, mainly in general dental practice, which UK dentistry graduates need to undertake in order to work in NHS practice.

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 Droylsden Road Dental Practice was one of the partners.

On the day of inspection, we collected 42 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. Patients were positive about all aspects of the service the practice provided.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, four dental nurses (including the trainee dental nurse), one of the partners 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 to Friday 9am to 5pm

Saturdays by prior arrangement.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was refurbished to a high standard and appeared clean and well maintained.
• The practice staff had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Items were missing from the medicines and life-saving equipment available.
• The practice had systems to help them identify and manage risk. We highlighted areas where some processes required improvement.
• The practice staff had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children. A few members of staff required refresher training in safeguarding.
• The practice had staff recruitment procedures. Some of the required information was not available.
• 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 practice was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
• 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.
• The practice staff had suitable information governance arrangements.

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

• Review the sharps procedures to ensure the practice follows the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013, and that immunity is in place or risk assessed for all clinical staff.

• Review the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to track and monitor their use.

• Review the practice's risk management systems for monitoring and mitigating risks. Legionella and hazardous substances.

• Review the practice's system for identifying, disposing and replenishing of out-of-date stock, in particular for medicines.