Updated 25 March 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 06 February 2020 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 Care Quality Commission, (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 this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services effective?
We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services caring?
We found this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services responsive?
We found this practice was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
Background
Total Orthodontics Brighton and Hove is located in Hove and provides private orthodontic care and treatment for adults and children.
The practice is in a listed building accessed by steps. On street car parking spaces, including parking for people with disabilities, are available.
The dental team includes four specialist orthodontists, one dental hygiene therapist, one qualified dental nurse, two trainee dental nurses, a lead receptionist, a treatment coordinator and a practice manager. 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 CQC 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 Total Orthodontics Brighton and Hove is the practice manager.
On the day of inspection, we collected 17 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with a further three patients.
During the inspection we spoke with one specialist orthodontist, one dental hygiene therapist, the lead dental nurse, two trainee dental nurses, the treatment coordinator, the lead receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
- Monday 8.39am to 6pm
- Tuesday 9am to 5pm
- Wednesday 9am to 7pm
- Thursday 8.30am to 5pm
- Friday 9am to 4.30pm
- Saturday (one per month) 9am to 1pm
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared to be visibly 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 provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
- 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 provided appropriate preventive care and supported patients to ensure their oral health was maintained whilst undergoing orthodontic treatment.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The provider had information governance arrangements.