Smile Dental Care Eastbourne Also known as Smile Dental Care Group - Eastbourne

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 not providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations. We will be following up on our concerns to ensure the provider has made the required improvements.
During our inspection of this key question, the registered person had ineffective systems or processes to enable them to assess, monitor and mitigate the risks relating to the health, safety and welfare of service users and others who may be at risk.
These concerns were in breach of regulation 17, good governance of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

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 provider’s oversight of regulatory requirements required improvement. This assessment highlighted some issues and omissions relating to risk management, staff recruitment, staff training and equipment maintenance.

The practice had a governance system that included policies and procedures. However, the information and evidence presented during the inspection was not always accessible or reflective of the practice. We went sent some updated policies on the day of the inspection and noted that the practice was not always following their processes, particularly with regards to recruitment and hepatitis B.

We were told of improvements implemented recently to their systems and further improvements are required to ensure that all risks are suitably identified and mitigated against. For example, there were no systems for reviewing safety incidents or accidents to prevent further occurrences and to share learning.

We saw that audits were mostly undertaken in line with recognised guidance, for example, the practice should ensure that the radiography audit is completed in line with guidance from the College of General Dentistry.

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.

The practice received patient safety alerts.

Concerns and complaints were responded to appropriately. We saw that a complaints log and tracker had been recently implemented to aid the process of sharing learning and for continuous improvement.
 

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.