Archived: Crown Bank Family Dental Health Centre

Updated 28 October 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

The inspection took place on 20 September 2016 and was led by a CQC Inspector with remote access to a specialist adviser.

Prior to the inspection we asked the practice to send us some information which we reviewed. This included details of complaints they had received in the last 12 months, their latest statement of purpose, and staff details, including their qualifications and professional body registration number where appropriate. We also reviewed information we held about the practice.

During the inspection we spoke to the managers, the principal dentist, a dental therapist, dental nurses and receptionists. We reviewed policies, protocols and other documents and observed procedures. We also reviewed CQC comment cards which we had sent prior to the inspection for patients to complete about the services provided at the practice.

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 therefore formed the framework for the areas we looked at during the inspection.

Updated 28 October 2016

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 20 September 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

Crown Bank Family Dental Health Centre is located in the centre of Sandbach and comprises a reception room, waiting room and two treatment rooms on the ground floor, and two further treatment rooms, offices, storage and staff rooms on the upper floor. Parking is available on nearby streets and in car parks. The practice is accessible to patients with disabilities, impaired mobility, and to wheelchair users.

The practice provides general dental treatment to patients on an NHS or privately funded basis. The opening times are Monday 8.30am to 5.00pm, Tuesday to Thursday 9.00am to 5.00pm, and Friday 8.30am to 4.00pm. The practice is staffed by a principal dentist, a business manager, two practice managers / dental nurses / receptionists, an associate dentist, a dental therapist and four dental nurses who are also receptionists.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission as an individual. 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 received feedback from 29 people during the inspection about the services provided. Patients commented that they found the practice well organised, and that staff were friendly, and extremely caring and attentive. They said that they were always given thorough, clear explanations about dental treatment, and that the clinicians listened to them and provided excellent treatment. Patients commented that the practice was clean and very comfortable.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had procedures in place to record and analyse significant events and incidents.
• Staff had received safeguarding training, and knew the process to follow to raise concerns.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and skilled staff to meet the needs of patients.
• Staff had been trained to deal with medical emergencies, and emergency medicines and equipment were available.
• The premises and equipment were clean, secure and maintained to a high standard.
• Staff followed current infection control guidelines for decontaminating and sterilising equipment.
• Patients’ needs were assessed, and care and treatment were delivered, in accordance with current legislation, standards, and guidance.
• Patients received information about their care, proposed treatment, costs, benefits, and risks and were involved in making decisions about it.
• Staff were supported to deliver effective care, and opportunities for training and learning were available.
• Patients were treated with kindness, dignity, and respect, and their confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met the needs of patients, and emergency appointments were available.
• Services were planned and delivered to meet the needs of patients, and reasonable adjustments were made to enable patients to receive their care and treatment.
• The practice gathered the views of patients and took their views into account.
• Staff were supervised, felt involved, and worked as a team.
• Governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the practice, and for the delivery of high quality person centred care.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review the storage of archived paper dental care records to ascertain whether an improvement to their security is possible without breaching health and safety requirements.