The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Taw Valley Dental Care

56 Fore Street, North Tawton, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 2DT (01837) 880096

Provided and run by:
Dr. Gerald Abdoll

All Inspections

28 April 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

At the last inspection in July 2013 we judged that the systems and processes in place to keep people safe and safeguarded from abuse, where not reliable. This included not providing staff with suitable training and information on how to recognise, prevent and report abuse. Staff had also not been given appropriate information or training on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its relevance to dentistry.

We also found that effective pre-employment checks had not been being carried out when recruiting new staff. We found that staff had been employed at the dentist without having a criminal records bureau check performed to show they were suitable to work with vulnerable people.

Following the inspection in July 2013 the provider sent us an action plan stating what they were going to do to become compliant.

At this inspection we found these improvements had taken place.

15 July 2013

During a routine inspection

When we visited the service we looked round the practice, spoke with the dentist, the nurse on duty and the practice manager. We looked at records related to the running of the practice. We spoke with seven people who used the service, some in the waiting room and some by telephone.

People told us they found this to be a very friendly and helpful service. People told us they could get appointments quickly if they needed one and that they were not kept waiting. People said the dentist explained what needed to be done and what choices were available. They said they had also been advised about how to look after their teeth.

People told us this practice had been 'brilliant with small children' and they were good at encouraging children to look after their teeth.

We found there were systems in place to make sure the surgery was hygienic and safe and that the quality of the service was maintained.

Staff had been trained in child protection so that they could be alert to signs of abuse or neglect and would know what action was needed. There were not yet systems in place for the protection of vulnerable adults or for identifying and getting support for people who were unable to make decisions in their own best interests.