We carried out this announced inspection on 18 February 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

Southport Orthodontics is in the centre of Southport, Merseyside and provides specialist NHS orthodontic treatment to children and some private orthodontic treatment to adults and children. The practice is the sole NHS contract holder for provision of orthodontic treatment to children, in the Sefton area.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces can be arranged for disabled patients if requested in advance. All other car parking is available in pay and display car parking spaces in the area around the practice.

The dental team includes the specialist orthodontist who owns the practice, two dental nurses, one of whom is the practice manager and receptionist, and a part time administrative assistant. The practice is in a shared facility and has one of the 10 treatment rooms on-site.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal orthodontist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection, we collected 50 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke briefly with two other patients. All feedback was consistently positive.

During the inspection we spoke with the orthodontist, a dental nurse and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open on Monday, Thursday and Friday from 7.45am to 4pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider 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.
• Staff were providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
• The provider had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider dealt with any complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.

We spoke with people using this service on the day of our visit. They told us that they were pleased with the care and treatment, that the staff were friendly, helpful and treated them with respect.They told us the clinic was clean and easy to access and that their privacy was maintained.