We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 7 February 2017 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

Goose Green Dental is located in the centre of Altrincham. The practice has a reception and waiting room, three treatment rooms, decontamination rooms and patient toilet faciilities all at ground floor level. Parking is available in a nearby car park. The practice is accessible to patients with disabilities, limited mobility, and to wheelchair users.

The practice provides general dental treatment to patients on an NHS or privately funded basis. The opening times are Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5.00pm, and Friday 8.30am to 12.30pm. The practice is closed for lunch between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.

The practice is staffed by three principal dentists, two associate dentists, a hygienist, a practice manager, six dental nurses, and a receptionist.

One of the principal dentists 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.

We received feedback from 36 people during the inspection about the services provided. Patients commented that they found the practice excellent, and that staff were professional, friendly, and caring. They said the dentists listened to them and provided high quality care. Patients commented that the practice was clean, bright and comfortable.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had procedures in place to record, analyse and learn from significant events and incidents.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, and knew the processes to follow to raise concerns.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and skilled staff to meet the needs of patients.
• The premises and equipment were clean, secure and well maintained.
• Staff followed current infection control guidelines for decontaminating and sterilising instruments.
• Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment were delivered in accordance with current standards and guidance.
• Patients received information about their care, proposed treatment, costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Staff were supported to deliver effective care, and opportunities for training and learning were available.
• Patients were treated with kindness and respect, and their confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients, and emergency appointments were available.
• Services were planned and delivered to meet the needs of patients.
• The practice gathered the views of patients and took their views into account.
• Staff were supervised, felt involved, and worked as a team.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies, and most emergency medicines and equipment were available.
• Governance arrangements, systems and processes were in place for the smooth running of the practice. Most of these were operating effectively.

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

• Review the availability of equipment to manage medical emergencies having due regard to guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council UK, and the General Dental Council standards for the dental team.
• Review the protocol for maintaining accurate, complete and detailed records relating to employment of staff. This includes ensuring recruitment checks, including references, are carried out and recorded.
• Review the systems for assessing, monitoring and mitigating the risks arising from undertaking of the regulated activities, specifically in relation to fire safety, display of warning signage and storage of cleaning chemicals.
• Review the protocols and procedures to ensure all staff are up to date with their continuing professional development.
• Review staff awareness of Gillick competency and ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities.
• Review the practice’s audit protocols of various aspects of the service, such as infection control, to ensure these are carried out at recommended intervals to help improve the quality of service.