Dentalcare Hook

On this page

• Overview
• Shared direction and culture
• Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders
• Freedom to speak up
• Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion
• Governance, management and sustainability
• Partnerships and communities
• Learning, improvement and innovation

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

At the time of the assessment there was no registered manager in post as required as a condition of registration. A registered manager is legally responsible for the management of services for which the practice is registered.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Shared direction and culture is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Freedom to speak up is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The practice had a governance system that included policies and procedures, which were accessible to staff and were reviewed on a regular basis.

Systems and processes were embedded, and the assessment did not highlight significant issues or omissions.

Staff were aware of the importance of protecting patients’ personal information. Staff password protected patients’ electronic care records, and paper records were stored securely and complied with General Data Protection Regulations.

There were processes for identifying and managing risks, investigating incidents and accidents, and for receiving and acting on safety alerts.

Concerns and complaints were responded to appropriately, and outcomes were discussed to share learning and for improvement.

Staff had clear responsibilities, and systems of accountability to support good governance.

Staff feedback was obtained through meetings and informal discussions. They were encouraged to offer suggestions for improvements to the service. The majority of staff said their suggestions were listened to and acted upon where appropriate. However, staff told us they have frequently expressed frustration, noting that the slow IT system negatively impacts their ability to perform their roles efficiently. The leadership team confirmed they were in the process of reviewing the challenges faced by the reception team and the ongoing IT speed issues.

Feedback from patients, the public and external partners was collected to which the practice responded.

The practice had taken steps to improve environmental sustainability. For example, sorting all generated waste into the appropriate bins, turning off screens and heaters when the surgery is not in use and recycling and disposing waste in the most environmentally friendly way.

The practice had systems and processes for learning, quality assurance and continuous improvement. Improvements should be made to ensure auditing is robust, for example, on the day we discovered that the seal on the eye wash kit was broken, causing the contents to leak. There was no auditing system in place to identify and address this issue promptly.

The judgement for Partnerships and communities is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Learning, improvement and innovation is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.