Church Road Dental Practice

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

We found this practice was providing safe care in line with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

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

The judgement for Learning culture is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Safe systems, pathways and transitions is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Safeguarding is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Involving people to manage risks is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The practice had processes to identify and manage risks, but improvement was needed to ensure processes were effective.

Staff could access emergency equipment and medicines that were checked in line with national guidance. They knew how to respond to a medical emergency and had completed training in emergency resuscitation and basic life support every year.

The premises were visibly clean, well maintained and free from clutter.

The practice had not carried out risk assessments in relation to the safe storage and handling of every substance hazardous to health that was in use by staff.

Improvement could be made to the risk assessment and safety data sheet folder to ensure timely access to information in an emergency.

The practice had arrangements to ensure the safety of the X-ray equipment, and the required radiation protection information was available.

Records of servicing, in line with manufacturer’s instructions, was available for most of the equipment used at the practice but improvement was needed to ensure that the dental laser unit and the patient treatment room chairs were included in the servicing programme.

The practice’s fire safety management procedures did not reflect current published guidance.

Immediate improvements were needed to ensure that the recommendations in the electrical installation condition report are actioned. The provider immediately addressed this by contacting an electrician to make the necessary improvements.

The practice had systems for appropriate and safe management of medicines.

NHS prescription pads were kept securely, and a log was in place to monitor and track their use.

The practice had a recruitment policy and procedures that reflected relevant legislation. However, these were not consistently followed and oversight of recruitment checks required improvement.

The practice ensured clinical staff were qualified, registered with the General Dental Council and had appropriate professional indemnity cover.

Newly appointed staff had an appropriate role specific structured induction.

Improvement was needed to ensure agency staff received structured inductions and records were kept.

The practice should take action to ensure that all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases and safety measures are in place for staff that had not yet received their full course of Hepatitis B vaccinations.

Staff told us that there were enough staff on duty at all times.

Staff demonstrated knowledge of safeguarding and were aware of how safeguarding information could be accessed. Staff knew how to escalate safeguarding concerns within the practice and externally.

The practice ensured staff training, including continuing professional development, was up-to-date and reviewed at the required intervals.

There were effective processes to support and develop staff with additional roles and responsibilities. Staff discussed their learning needs, general wellbeing and aims for future professional development during annual appraisals, practice team meetings and ongoing informal discussions.

Staff felt respected, supported and valued, and they were proud to work in the practice.

The practice’s infection control procedures did not reflect current published guidance.

Staff used personal protective equipment and decontaminated dental instruments after use, in line with national guidance. We saw, and staff confirmed that single-use items were not reprocessed.

The practice had procedures to reduce the risk of Legionella, or other bacteria, developing in water systems. However, improvement was needed to ensure a new risk assessment was carried out to reflect the updated water system.

The practice had protocols to ensure effective cleaning and safe segregation and disposal of hazardous waste but external storage arrangements requirement improvement.

Decontamination equipment was maintained and serviced in line with manufacturers’ instructions, but improvement was needed to ensure validation of equipment followed national guidelines.

Environmental cleaning was carried out by an external cleaning company. Improvement was needed to ensure that cleaning standard checks were carried out and a record kept.

The practice completed infection prevention and control audits in line with current guidance.

The judgement for Medicines optimisation is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.