High Street Dental Practice Also known as South Cliff Dental Group Broadstairs

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 not providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations. We will be following up on our concerns to ensure the provider has made the required improvements.

Whilst there are issues to be addressed, the impact of our concerns relates to the governance and the oversight of the risks, rather than a patient safety risk.

During our inspection of this key question, we found concerns related to

the safety of the premises and equipment

the infection prevention and control standards not being followed at the practice

These concerns were in breach of Regulation 15 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

You can find more details of our concerns in the detailed findings below.

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 provider had ineffective processes to identify and manage risks in relation to premises and fire safety. In 2020 a fixed electrical installation report identified a number of areas which required improvement, including some urgent action points. At the time of our inspection the improvements identified had not been acted on.

The management of fire safety was ineffective. An external fire safety assessment carried out in 2023 identified a number of improvements in relation to fire safety at the practice. These included gaps in the suspended ceiling which could allow smoke to spread in the event of a fire, the lack of emergency lighting and appropriate fire doors. The report also highlighted risks around the use of electrical extension cables. At the time of our inspection these issues had not been acted on. We observed gaps in the ceiling panels in a number of areas including corridors and the decontamination room. Extension cables were used in numerous areas and staff expressed concerns about these.

There were no records in relation to fire safety checks. We were provided with a template document that had not been completed.

Emergency equipment and medicines were available and checked in accordance with national guidance. Staff could access these in a timely way. Staff knew how to respond to a medical emergency and had completed training in emergency resuscitation and basic life support every year.

Hazardous substances were clearly labelled and stored safely.

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

We saw satisfactory records of servicing and validation of equipment in line with manufacturer’s instructions.

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

The practice had a recruitment policy and procedures that reflected relevant legislation, to help them employ suitable staff.

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.

Staff we spoke with had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles. They 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 had arrangements to ensure staff training, including continuing professional development, was up-to-date and reviewed at the required intervals.

The practice had a high turnover of staff. The majority of staff at the practice had been employed for just six months. Some staff stated they did not feel respected, supported or valued. However, they told us they were proud of the work that they did.

Staff received appropriate training in infection prevention.

The practice had procedures to reduce the risk of Legionella, or other bacteria, developing in water systems, in line with a risk assessment and current guidance.

We observed use of personal protective equipment and the decontamination of used dental instruments, which aligned with national guidance. We saw, and staff confirmed that single use items were not reprocessed.

The equipment in use was maintained and serviced as per manufacturers’ instructions.

The practice had protocols to ensure and safe segregation and disposal of hazardous waste.

Improvements were needed to the practice infection control procedures. We observed areas of damp in both decontamination rooms. The tap fixtures were not secured in the worktops, which exposed areas and made them difficult to clean effectively.

The practice completed infection prevention and control audits. However these were not completed at the recommended intervals, in line with current guidance. The audits were incomplete and did not identify the issues we observed in the decontamination rooms.

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