Oakleigh Dental Practice

We carried out this announced inspection on 30 January 2018 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 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

Oakleigh Dental practice is in Halesowen and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is ramped access to the rear of the practice for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Four car parking spaces are available at the front of the practice and parking is also available on local side roads and in a pay and display car park near the practice.

The dental team includes three dentists, five dental nurses, (two of which also act as assistant managers and one is the practice manager) a dental therapist and a reception manager. The practice has four treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a partnership and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission 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 Oakleigh Dental practice was one of the partners and was present during this inspection.

On the day of inspection we received feedback from 42 patients and this information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists (including the registered manager), five dental nurses (including two assistant managers and the practice manager), one dental hygiene therapist and the reception manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: 9am to 8pm on Monday, 9am to 6pm on Tuesday and Thursday, 8am to 6pm on Wednesday and 8am to 5pm on Friday.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance. Infection prevention and control audits were completed four times per year, which is over and above the recommendations set out in HTM 01-05.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Not all appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available but these were purchased during the inspection.
• The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice 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.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team. Staff were given lead roles and took pride in these roles.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.