21 August 2018
During an inspection looking at part of the service
We undertook a follow up focused inspection on 21 August 2018. This inspection was carried out to review in detail the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.
The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
We undertook a comprehensive inspection of Alan Freedmans Dental Practice on 21 February 2018 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We found the registered provider was not providing safe and well led care in accordance with the relevant regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Mr. Alan Freedman on our website www.cqc.org.uk.
When one or more of the five questions are not met we require the service to make improvements and send us an action plan. We then inspect again after a reasonable interval, focusing on the areas where improvement was required.
As part of this inspection we asked:
• Is it safe?
• Is it well-led?
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breaches we found at our inspection on 21 February 2018.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 21 February 2018.
Background
Alan Freedmans Dental Practice is in Salford and provides private treatment to adults and children.
A portable ramp is available for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. On street parking is available directly outside the practice.
The dental team includes two dentists, five dental nurses who also carry out reception and administrative duties (one manages the practice and one is a trainee), and a dental hygiene therapist. The practice has two treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist 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.
During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist and dental nurses, one of whom manages the practice. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 5.30pm
Wednesday 9am to 5.00pm
Friday 9am to 1.00pm
Our key findings were:
- The practice had infection control procedures. Improvements had been made to the decontamination processes.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children. Staff were up to date with safeguarding training.
- Staff files were well organised, stored securely and Information relating to recruitment procedures was readily available.
- Improvements had been made to the overall governance arrangements. The practice used audits to review their improvements.
- The practice had reviewed their processes to carry out and document assessments in line with nationally agreed guidance.
- Disability access had been reviewed and improved.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Review the practice’s protocols to ensure audits have documented learning points and the resulting improvements can be demonstrated.
- Review the practice's protocols for completion of dental care records taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.