Updated 14 February 2018
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.
We told the NHS England area team that we were inspecting the practice. They did not provide any information.
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
Redcliffe Orthodontics is located in the Battenhall area of Worcester and provides specialist NHS and private orthodontic treatment to patients of all ages. Orthodontics is a specialist dental service concerned with the alignment of the teeth and jaws to improve the appearance of the face, the
teeth and their function. Orthodontic treatment is provided under NHS referral for children except when the problem falls below the accepted eligibility criteria for NHS treatment. Private treatment is available for these patients as well as adults who require orthodontic treatment.
There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs due to a large ramp to the front of the building. The ground floor of the practice consists of a reception area, a waiting room, an accessible patient toilet, a dental treatment suite with two dental chairs, an x-ray room and a decontamination room for the cleaning, sterilising and packing of dental instruments. On the first floor there is a staff room / kitchen, a management office, a preventative dental unit room and staff toilet facilities. Car parking spaces, including appropriate space for blue badge holders, are available in the dedicated on site car park.
The practice team consists of the principal orthodontist, an orthodontic therapist, a lead dental nurse, three dental nurses and one receptionist. The practice has one treatment room containing two treatment chairs.
The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal orthodontist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.
On the day of inspection we collected 58 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and looked at the most recent patient survey undertaken in 2017. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.
During the inspection we spoke with the principal orthodontist, the lead dental nurse and two dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm
Our key findings were:
- Strong and effective leadership was provided by the principal orthodontist and an empowered lead dental nurse. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The practice was visibly clean and well maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff had been trained to handle medical emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment was readily available in accordance with current guidelines.
- 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 practice had fully embraced the concept of skill mix and extended duties to enhance the delivery of effective orthodontic care to patients.
- 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 asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided. Information from 58 completed Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards gave us a positive picture of a friendly, caring, professional and high quality service.
- The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.