We carried out this announced inspection on 19 September 2017 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.

We told the NHS England area team and Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice. They did not have any relevant information to share with us regarding this dental practice.

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

Glen Thelwell and Associates Dental Care are located in Staveley near Chesterfield. The practice provides mostly NHS dental treatment (90%) and some private dental treatment (10%) to patients of all ages.

The practice is located on two floors with a removable ramp to help wheelchair users negotiate the front step. There are four treatment rooms, one of which is located on the ground floor. There is a small car park to the rear of the practice, plus other free parking in the area.

The ownership of the practice changed in April 2017 when the current owner bought an established dental practice.

The dental team includes five dentists; four qualified dental nurses; one trainee dental nurse, a part-time receptionist and one practice manager.

The practice is owned by an organisation 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 principal dentist is the registered manager at Glen Thelwell and Associates Dental Care.

On the day of inspection we collected seven CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with four dentists, three dental nurses, and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice opening hours are: Monday to Friday: 9 am to 5:30 pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which followed published guidance.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided, and received positive feedback.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risks in the practice, particularly with regard to health and safety.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes. Staff had been trained and knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took measures to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The practice completed regular audits and used the information to make improvements.
• Management and governance processes were under review following the change of ownership.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

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

• Review the practice's environmental risk assessments and ensure a fire risk assessment is undertaken and the necessary actions implemented.
• Review its responsibilities to the needs of people with a disability, including those with hearing difficulties and the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.