The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Church Street Dental Surgery

19-21 Ashcroft Court, Church Street, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 1JW (01799) 528555

Provided and run by:
Church Street Dental Surgery Ltd

Important: The provider of this service changed - see old profile

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

 

We undertook a follow-up off-site inspection on 17 October 2025. This was carried out to review the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to assess whether the practice was meeting legal requirements.

We had previously undertaken an announced on-site inspection of Church Street Dental Surgery on 12 May 2025. We had found the registered provider was not providing well-led care and was in breach of regulation 17 good governance of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

During our follow-up inspection, we found the practice had met regulations.

The practice had systems to manage risks.

There was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.

Church Street Dental Surgery is located in a Tudor timber framed building in Saffron Walden and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children. Due to the limitations of the building, step free and wheelchair access was not available. Car parking spaces were available, including dedicated parking for disabled people, in pay and display car parks near the practice.

The practice had 3 treatment rooms. At the time of our inspection, there was a total of 11 staff, of which there were 3 dentists, 4 dental nurses including 1 trainee dental nurse, 1 dental therapist, 1 dental hygienist and 2 receptionists. We gathered feedback from the provider through emails and attachments.

During an assessment under our new approach

We carried out this announced on-site inspection on 12 May 2025.

We found the practice had not met all regulations.

Infection control procedures in place were effective.

The practice had some systems to identify and manage risks.

Recruitment procedures reflected current legislation and there was effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement.

Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidance.

Patients were treated with dignity and respect and at the time of our inspection, could access care, support and treatment when required.

Church Street Dental Surgery is located in a Tudor timber framed building in Saffron Walden and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children. Due to the limitations of the building, step free and wheelchair access was not available. Car parking spaces were available, including dedicated parking for disabled people, in pay and display car parks near the practice.

The practice had 3 treatment rooms.At the time of our inspection, there was a total of 11 staff, of which there were 3 dentists, 4 dental nurses including 1 trainee dental nurse, 1 dental therapist, 1 dental hygienist and 2 receptionists. We gathered feedback from staff and spoke to a range of staff during our inspection, including 2 dentists, 3 dental nurses, 1 dental hygienist and 1 receptionist.

The provider was not complying with 1 regulation. Full details of the regulation the provider was not meeting are within the inspection findings below.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this inspection.

 

24 September 2015

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 24 September 2015 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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

Church Street Dental Surgery provides private dental care only. The practice has two surgeries and two dentists work at the practice. The dentists are supported by two dental nurses and two members of reception staff.

The lead dentist is the responsible person. This is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘responsible persons’ and 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 the inspection we spoke with one patient who told us that they were satisfied with the services provided at the practice. They told us that they were treated with kindness, dignity and respect and their privacy was maintained. They said that explanations and costs were clear and they were involved in the decisions about their care and treatment.

We viewed ten comments cards that we had left for patients to complete prior to our inspection. The cards all contained positive comments about the services provided. Patients said that they were satisfied with the cleanliness of the practice, the politeness of the receptionists and the quality of the dentistry. The said the appointment system met their needs and that they received clear explanations about their care and treatment.

Our key findings were:

  • There were systems in place to manage safety incidents and complaints and to cascade any learning from them to staff.
  • There were sufficient supplies of emergency medicines and equipment and staff had been trained in their use.
  • All staff had received safeguarding training and were aware of the different signs of abuse and how to report incidents.
  • Risks to patients and staff had been assessed and managed effectively. National patient safety and medicine alerts were monitored and acted upon.
  • Recruitment processes were robust. Staff had been appropriately trained and received an annual appraisal
  • Infection control procedures followed published guidance and staff were following the correct decontamination procedures.
  • Treatments and consultations followed guidance from the National Institute for Health Care Excellence.
  • An effective complaints process was in place and this was readily available for patients to view.
  • Patients were treated with dignity and respect and staff were polite and courteous.
  • The appointment system met the needs of patients including access to emergency dental care.
  • The practice was well-led and the lead dentists set standards for staff to follow and monitored them.
  • Patient and feedback was sought and monitored through the use of a monthly patient survey. Staff feedback was sought informally and at staff meetings.
  • Staff were involved in the vision and strategy at the practice and worked as part of a team

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

  • Ensure staff wear appropriate personal protective equipment when decontaminating dental instruments. Ensure staff manually cleaning instruments brush them under the water line to reduce the risk of cross contaminating through splashing.
  • Ensure staff cleaning dental instruments follow hand washing guidance before and after the cleaning process.