We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 10 November 2016 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

Established in 2015, Wessington Dental practice is located in a purpose-built ground floor premises and provides predominantly private treatment to patients of all ages. There are four treatment rooms, a treatment coordinator room, two interconnecting decontamination rooms for sterilising dental instruments, a staff room/kitchen and a general office. Access for wheelchair users or pushchairs is possible from two ground floor entrances, both which lead into the spacious reception and waiting area. Ample car parking spaces are available in front of the practice.

The practice is open

Monday and Thursday 0900-1900, Tuesday 0800-1900, Wednesday 0800-1600, Thursday 0900-1900, Friday 0800-1500 and alternate Saturdays 0900-1300.

The dental team is comprised of five dentists, a compliance director, a patient experience manager, seven dental nurses, two dental hygienists and one receptionist.

The practice provides general dentistry as well as specialised treatments such as sedation and implants. Staff are actively involved in various charity sponsorships and regularly participate in the oral cancer action month.

One of the partners of Wessington Dental is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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 reviewed nine CQC comment cards on the day of our visit; patients were extremely positive about the staff and standard of care provided by the practice. Patients commented they felt involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be helpful, respectful, friendly and were treated in a clean and tidy environment.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was well organised, visibly clean and free from clutter.
• An Infection prevention and control policy was in place. We saw the sterilisation procedures followed recommended guidance.
• The practice had systems for recording incidents and accidents.
• Practice meetings were used for shared learning.
• The practice had a safeguarding policy and staff were aware on how to escalate safeguarding issues for children and adults should the need arise.
• Staff received annual medical emergency training. Equipment for dealing with medical emergencies reflected guidance from the resuscitation council.
• Dental professionals provided treatment in accordance with current professional guidelines.
• Patient feedback was regularly sought and reflected upon.
• Patients could access urgent care when required.
• Dental professionals were maintaining their continued professional development (CPD) in accordance with their professional registration.
• Complaints were dealt with in an efficient and positive manner.
• The practice was actively involved in promoting oral health.