Updated 3 April 2019
We carried out this announced inspection on 7 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
Ethos Dental Care Ltd is in Stockport, Cheshire and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.
There is level access via a portable ramp for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.
The dental team includes four dentists, six dental nurses, two of whom are trainees, one dental hygienist and a receptionist. The practice has three treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by a company 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 Ethos Dental Care Ltd is the principal dentist.
On the day of inspection, we collected 49 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.
During the inspection we spoke with three dentists and two dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open on Monday from 9am to 5pm; on Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to 5.30pm; on Wednesday from 9am to 6pm, and from 8am to 2pm on Friday. Some Saturday appointments can be offered by prior arrangement with the practice.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared 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 concerns or complaints positively and efficiently.
- Some areas of information governance and arrangements for this could be improved. For example, in oversight of staff training and continuing professional development and for management of audits.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practice's protocols and procedures to ensure staff are up to date with their continuing professional development. In particular, that there are systems and processes in place to ensure adequate oversight of staff training, including retained, self-employed staff who provide services.
- Review the practice’s protocols to ensure audits of radiography, patient records and infection prevention and control are undertaken at regular intervals to improve the quality of the service. Practice should also ensure that, where appropriate, audits are available for review, have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.