J P Ward & Associates

On this page

• Overview
• Assessing needs
• Delivering evidence-based care and treatment
• How staff, teams and services work together
• Supporting people to live healthier lives
• Monitoring and improving outcomes
• Consent to care and treatment

We found this practice was providing effective 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 Assessing needs is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The provider had systems to ensure that people who used the service received person-centred care and treatment that was appropriate, met their needs and was reflective of their personal preferences. The dentist confirmed, where applicable, they referred patients to a range of specialists in primary and secondary care for treatment the practice did not provide. Staff told us how they kept up to date with current evidence-based practice. The practice provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health. Staff were aware of national oral health campaigns and local schemes which supported patients to live healthier lives. Staff felt the practice supported them to develop and enabled them to take on lead roles and responsibilities. Staff worked together and with other health and social care professionals to deliver effective care and treatment. Staff demonstrated their understanding of the need to obtain patients’ consent to care and treatment in line with legislation and guidance. They understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff described how they involved patients’ relatives or carers when appropriate and made sure they had enough time to explain treatment options clearly.

Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles. The practice had systems to keep dental professionals up to date with current evidence-based practice. The practice offered conscious sedation for patients. We identified scope for improvement with the practice’s systems for ensuring checks before and after treatment, emergency equipment, medicines, sedation equipment , and staff training, reflected current guidance. We noted that some equipment had exceeded the manufacturers use by date, consent was not always recorded clearly and not all members of the sedation treatment team demonstrated an awareness of recognised guidance. During our assessment, the provider confirmed they would no longer offer treatment under sedation. We received written confirmation of this and the provider’s plans to refer people who required sedation to other services. The practice offered orthodontic treatment for patients. The specialist carried out a patient assessment in line with recognised guidance from the British Orthodontic Society. We looked at 8 patient care records. The information recorded was not always in line with guidance. We identified scope for improvement in ensuring that recommended assessments of gum health and oral health advice given was recorded. The provider submitted evidence that action was taken to address this issue. Staff obtained patients’ consent to care and treatment in line with legislation and guidance and understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The practice had systems for the handling and prescribing of medicines. We identified scope for improvement in how NHS prescription pads were kept, and ensuring a log was in place to monitor and track their use. During our assessment the provider took action to address this issue. Staff worked together and with other health and social care professionals to deliver effective care and treatment.

The judgement for How staff, teams and services work together is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Supporting people to live healthier lives is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Monitoring and improving outcomes is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.

The judgement for Consent to care and treatment is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Effective key question.