We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 1 December 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

Mydentist Gold Street Kettering provides primary dental care and treatment to patients whose care is funded through the NHS and to a small number of patients who pay privately. The service is part of the Partnership owned by a large provider of dental care, the IDH Group currently rebranding to Mydentist. The practice employs four dentists, four dental nurses, a trainee dental nurse, a practice manager and three receptionists. The practice opens 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

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.

We received feedback from 46 patients either in person or via CQC comments cards from patients who had visited the practice in the two weeks before our inspection. The cards were all very positive showing that patients valued the service they received. Patients said that staff were very welcoming and helped them to reduce their anxiety. They told us staff listened to them, involved them in decisions about their care and patients were very complimentary about the treatment and overall service they had experienced.

Our key findings were:

• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.
• The practice had access to emergency equipment and this included an automated external defibrillator and medical oxygen. Emergency medicines were in line with the British National Formulary (BNF) guidance for medical emergencies in dental practice.
• The training, learning and development needs of staff members were assessed and staff were supported to receive professional development.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice. This included audits for infection control, dental care records and radiography.
• Accidents were investigated and appropriate action was taken although the records required further improvement. Other incidents that caused, or had the potential to disrupt day to day services were actioned and reported to head office although there was no clear method to identify these as significant events and ensure appropriate monitoring.
• A complaints process was in place and this was managed effectively so that learning and improvement took place.

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

• Review guidelines for identifying, recording and monitoring any significant events to control risks, maximise learning and maintain the smooth running of the service.

• Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment giving due regard to guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society.
• Review procedures to ensure that all risk assessments are reviewed in a timely way. This should include the COSHH file and easy access to the action staff should take in the event of an incident with such products. The fire risk assessment also required a review.
• Review the signage of clean and dirty flows in the decontamination room so that it is clear.
• Review the safeguarding policy to include the named staff member with overall responsibility for safeguarding and any localised arrangements.
• Consider installing a hearing loop at the premises.
• Consider adding information about obtaining emergency care out of hours on the practice website.