The Kensington Clinic

We carried out this announced inspection on 11 August 2021 under section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We planned the inspection to check whether the registered provider was meeting the legal requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations. The inspection was led by a Care Quality Commission, (CQC), inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we asked the following questions:

• Is it safe?

• Is it effective?

• Is it well-led?

These questions form the framework for the areas we look at during the inspection.

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services effective?

We found this practice was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services well-led?

We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Background

The Kensington Clinic is in West Kensington in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

The practice is on the ground floor of the building and has one treatment room and a separate decontamination room.

The practice is located close to public transport services and metered car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes two dentists, two qualified dental nurses and one dental hygienist. One of the dental nurses undertakes additional roles - including reception duties, practice manager, and CQC registered manager.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

During the inspection we spoke with one dental nurse and the registered manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday and Wednesday 9.00am - 5.00pm

Tuesday and Thursday 9.00am - 8.00pm

Friday 9.00am - 3.00pm

Saturday - closed

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared to be visibly clean and well-maintained.
• The provider had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
• The provider had staff recruitment procedures which reflected current legislation.
• The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The provider had safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• Staff felt involved and supported and worked as a team.
• The provider asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The provider had information governance arrangements.
• The provider had effective leadership. Improvements were however required in ensuring all risks were suitably identified and mitigated and quality improvement initiatives such as audits were undertaken regularly.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

Take action to ensure the clinicians take into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice when completing dental care records.

Implement protocols for conscious sedation, taking into account the guidelines published by The Intercollegiate Advisory Committee on Sedation in Dentistry in the document 'Standards for Conscious Sedation in the Provision of Dental Care 2015.

Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.

Take action to ensure audits of radiography and infection prevention and control are undertaken at regular intervals to improve the quality of the service.