Updated 10 February 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 14 January 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
Glen Dental Clinic is in Great Glen, a village in the Harborough district in Leicestershire. It provides NHS dental care for children and private dental care for adults. Services include general dental care.
There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs.
The practice does not have its own car park, but spaces are available on street and in a free local car park within short distance of the premises.
The dental team includes two dentists, two dental nurses, one dental hygienist and one dental receptionist who also undertakes administrative tasks.
The practice has two treatment rooms; both on ground floor level. There is a separate decontamination room.
The practice is owned by a partnership 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 Glen Dental Clinic is one of the principal dentists.
On the day of inspection, we collected 37 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.
During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses and the receptionist
/administrator. We looked at practice policies and procedures, patient feedback and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 5.30pm and Wednesday from 9am to 2pm.
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 preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system took account of patients’ needs.
- The provider had effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.
- Staff praised the support received from management and felt involved in the practice; they said they worked as a team.
- The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The provider dealt with the one complaint received positively and efficiently.
- The provider had information governance arrangements.