Excel Dental Care

On this page

• Overview
• Shared direction and culture
• Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders
• Freedom to speak up
• Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion
• Governance, management and sustainability
• Partnerships and communities
• Learning, improvement and innovation

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Shared direction and culture is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Freedom to speak up is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

We found staff to be open to discussion and feedback. The principal dentist and staff we spoke with demonstrated a transparent and open culture in relation to people’s safety. Staff told us there was strong leadership with emphasis on people’s safety and continually striving to improve. Staff told us they had clear responsibilities, roles and systems of accountability to support good governance and management. Feedback from staff was obtained through meetings, appraisals, and informal discussions. Staff were encouraged to offer suggestions for improvements to the service, and they said these were listened to and acted upon, where appropriate. For example, the new dental nurse had suggested improvements to how the service managed returned lab work. The suggestion was implemented immediately and the receptionist commented on how it had made their work more efficient. Staff stated they felt respected, supported and valued. They were proud to work in the practice. We saw the practice had effective processes to support and develop staff with additional roles and responsibilities. One staff member told us how they had been supported to carry out more therapy work, through close guidance and by observing the principal dentist carrying out different treatment techniques. Staff told us how they collected and responded to feedback from patients through the NHS Friends and Family Test. The practice had taken steps to improve environmental sustainability.

Systems and processes were embedded, and staff worked together in such a way that the assessment did not highlight any significant issues or omissions. Where the assessment identified areas which required improvement these were acted on immediately. The information and evidence presented during the assessment was clear and well documented. The practice had a governance system which included policies, protocols and procedures that were accessible to all members of staff and were reviewed on a regular basis. We saw there were clear and effective processes for identifying and managing risks, issues and performance. The practice had systems to review and investigate incidents and accidents, and for receiving and acting on safety alerts. The practice responded to concerns and complaints appropriately. Staff discussed outcomes to share learning and improve the service. The practice had systems and processes for learning, quality assurance and continuous improvement. This included undertaking audits according to recognised guidance.

The judgement for Partnerships and communities is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Learning, improvement and innovation is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.