Updated 31 August 2018
We undertook a follow-up focused inspection of Gaskell Avenue Dental Practice on 23 August 2018. This inspection was carried out to review in detail the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care, and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.
The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
We undertook a comprehensive inspection of Gaskell Avenue Dental Practice on 1 May 2018 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions.
We found the registered provider was not providing safe and well-led care, and was in breach of Regulations 12, 17 and 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Gaskell Avenue Dental Practice on our website www.cqc.org.uk.
When one or more of the five questions are not met we require the provider to make improvements and send us an action plan. We then inspect again after a reasonable interval, focusing on the areas where improvements were necessary.
As part of this inspection we asked:
• Is it safe?
• Is it well-led?
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we identified at our comprehensive inspection on 1 May 2018.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breaches we identified at our comprehensive inspection on 1 May 2018.
Background
Gaskell Avenue Dental Practice is close to the centre of Knutsford and provides NHS and private treatment for adults and children.
There is level access to facilitate entrance to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and for pushchairs. Car parking is available outside the practice.
The dental team includes three principal dentists, an associate dentist, a visiting specialist dentist, seven dental nurses, two of whom carry out reception duties, and one of whom carries out practice administration duties, two dental hygienists, and two receptionists. The practice has six 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 Gaskell Avenue Dental Practice was one of the principal dentists.
During the inspection we spoke with one of the principal dentists and two receptionists. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday 9.00am to 5.30pm
Tuesday 9.00am to 8.00pm
Wednesday 8.00am to 4.30pm
Thursday 8.30am to 4.30pm
Friday 9.00am to 5.30pm
Our key findings were:
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The provider had improved their systems for managing risk.
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The child safeguarding policy was now customised to the practice’s specific circumstances.
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The provider had implemented robust staff recruitment procedures.
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The practice had improved the leadership and management structure and had introduced a culture of continuous improvement.
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Staff felt involved and supported, and worked well as a team.