Smilecare Dental Centre

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.

The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 6 June 2024.

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.

At the inspection on 11 September 2025 we found the practice had made the following improvements to comply with the regulation:

We saw that staff had worked well together as a team to implement and strengthen systems of accountability to support good governance and management. Staff continually strived to improve clinical care.

We found that all staff had completed the necessary training in safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Staff were aware of how to make a safeguarding referral or who to inform if they had concerns. Policies had been updated, and the required information was easily accessible by staff.

We saw that medical emergency equipment had been updated and included all recommended items. Systems for checking emergency equipment and medicines were strengthened and ensured that staff were aware of expiry dates for the purposes of reordering to prevent gaps in items.

A full fire risk assessment had been completed in accordance with the legal requirements. The management of fire safety was effective, fire exits were signposted, and all necessary testing of equipment was carried out at the required intervals.

The practice had reviewed the systems in place to assess, monitor and mitigate risks to patient and staff safety. The use of sharps within the practice had been reviewed and a new risk assessment was in place. Managing the risk of Legionella was effective and all control measures were being completed, for example, checking of water temperatures and flushing dental unit water lines.

Systems in place to oversee staff recruitment had been reviewed. The practice recruitment policy reflected relevant legislation. There had been no staff changes since the inspection on 22 May 2025 but all necessary documentation was in place, for example, the Hepatitis B immunisation status of all staff was evidenced or suitable risk assessments in place, Disclosure and Barring Services checks (DBS) were completed as appropriate.

The monitoring and tracking of staff training and continuing professional development (CPD) had improved. The system to oversee staff training ensured that all staff had completed their required training, for example, in General Dental Council (GDC) recommended topics such as radiography, decontamination and safeguarding as well as topics reflecting legislation and guidance, for example, training in fire safety and Legionella awareness.

Staff kept up to date with current evidence-based practice, for example, around the use of antimicrobials. Staff obtained patients’ consent to care and treatment in line with legislation and guidance and documented this appropriately.

The practice had implemented a new system of clinical records which assisted staff in ensuring that detailed records were kept in line with current guidance. We saw that medical histories were updated, there were documented diagnoses and treatment options were clearly recorded. Radiographs taken were justified, graded and reported on.

We saw that relevant signage for the use of closed-circuit television was now in place.

An updated disability access audit has been completed which reflected the practice. Staff had completed training on learning disability and autism.

Systems for learning, quality assurance and continuous improvement had been strengthened. Infection prevention and control, and radiography audits were completed in line with guidance.

We obtained feedback from 4 patients on the day of the inspection and saw feedback the practice had obtained over the preceding 3 months. Patient comments included “very friend and supportive”, “extremely good standard of dentistry, I come from a distance to visit here”, “well looked after, very professional and cares for the patient” and “excellent treatment and advice and does so with great care for my well-being”.

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.