We carried out this announced inspection on 14 March 2019 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

Puresmile Reading is in Reading and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces including those for blue badge holders, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes five dentists, five dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse, one dental hygienist, two administrators, two receptionists and a practice manager. The practice has six treatment rooms.

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 Puresmile Reading is one of the partners.

On the day of our inspection we collected 14 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and obtained the views of 12 other patients.

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

The practice is open:

• Monday 8.00am to 5.30pm
• Tuesday 8.00am to 5.30pm
• Wednesday 8.00am to 7.30pm
• Thursday 8.30am to 5.30pm
• Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm
• Saturday 8.00am to 12.30pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Improvements were needed to ensure appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff 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 care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The practice had systems to monitor staff training.
• 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 dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The practice had suitable information governance arrangements.
• Improvements were needed to ensure action plans reflected the results of clinical audits.
• All the shortfalls we identified on our inspection have since been addressed.