We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 25 August 2015 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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

Genix Healthcare Dental Clinic - Mexborough 1 is situated in Mexborough. It offers mainly NHS treatment to patients of all ages but also offers private dental treatments. The services provided include preventative advice and treatment, routine restorative dental care and dental treatment under conscious sedation. Treatment and waiting rooms are on the ground and first floor of the premises.

The practice has five surgeries, a recovery room, a decontamination room, a storage room, two waiting areas, a reception area and toilet facilities.

There are currently five dentists, a maxillofacial surgeon and an anaesthetist. There are also six dental nurses who also share reception duties and a practice manager.

The opening hours are Monday and Wednesday to Friday 9-00am to 5-30pm and Tuesday 9-00am to 6-30pm.

The practice manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

During the inspection we spoke with three patients who used the service and reviewed 17 completed CQC comment cards. The patients who provided feedback were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be friendly and they were treated with dignity and respect.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had systems in place to assess and manage risks to patients and staff including infection prevention and control, health and safety and the management of medical emergencies.
• Dental care records were detailed and showed that treatment was planned in line with current best practice guidelines.
• Oral health advice and treatment were provided in-line with the ‘Delivering Better Oral Health’ toolkit (DBOH).
• Patients were treated with care, respect and dignity.
• There were clearly defined leadership roles within the practice and staff told us that they felt supported, appreciated and comfortable to raise concerns or make suggestions. Staff received training appropriate to their roles.

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

• Take action to seal the floor in the “Hepburn” surgery.

People who used the service told us they were asked to consent to treatment after a full explanation of the proposed procedures had been given to them. We found that the practice had appropriate policies on consent which were understood and followed by staff.

People told us they were satisfied with the care they received. We found that people were cared for in a safe environment, and that people's records were completed fully and described their treatment appropriately.

People told us they were treated in a clean environment and infection control precautions were taken. We found that people were protected from the risk of infection as there were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection.

People told us staff seemed competent in their job and knew what they were doing. We found that staff received an appropriate level of training and professional development.

People who used the service told us they knew how to make a complaint and who to complain to. There was a complaints procedure in place and staff were aware of their responsibilities to report complaints so they could be formally investigated.