Cobbs Garden Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 5 March 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 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

Cobbs Garden Dental Practice is in Olney, Buckinghamshire and provides private treatment to adults and children.

The practice is located in a purpose-built building next to a GP practice. There is ramp access in to the premises and ground floor treatment rooms available for people with limited mobility and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available directly outside the practice.

The dental team includes three dentists, two hygienists, three dental nurses and a trainee dental nurse/receptionist. They are supported by a practice manager and three receptionists. The practice has two treatment rooms and a separate decontamination room.

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 Cobbs Garden Dental Practice is the practice manager.

On the day of inspection, we received feedback from 17 patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the practice manager, one dentist, one dental nurse and one receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday to Thursday from 8am to 6pm.

Friday and Saturday by appointment only.

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 provider 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 provided preventive care and supported 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. Staff spoke openly about how much they enjoyed working at the practice.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.