Archived: Quay Health Also known as Smile Dental Care Group - Paignton

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 accordance with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

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

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 and staff we spoke with were able to describe these to us. Staff demonstrated an open culture in relation to people’s safety. Staff felt confident that risks were well managed at the practice, and this was reflected in our findings.

The practice did not have effective fire safety management procedures. We found the downstairs fire evacuation routes were not clearly marked with appropriate signage, and the provider had not ensured that all fire evacuation routes were free from obstructions.

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.

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 patient areas within the premises were visibly clean, well maintained and free from clutter. Hazardous substances were clearly labelled and stored safely.

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, including agency or locum 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.

Systems were not effective to ensure all staff had completed all required training. We sampled staff records and for some staff training certificates were not available, including safeguarding, infection prevention and control, fire safety, data protection, and radiography. Training records showed that some staff had only completed required courses shortly before the inspection, with no evidence that training had been maintained at the recommended intervals beforehand.

Staff we spoke with had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles. They told us that there were sufficient levels of staff on duty at all times. 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.

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, 1-to-1 meetings, supervision, practice team meetings and ongoing informal discussions.

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

The practice had infection control procedures. However improvements were needed so these reflected published guidance.

The practice had protocols to ensure effective cleaning and safe segregation and disposal of hazardous waste. However, the practice should manage the frequency of waste collection as we found an overflowing general waste bin, a large volume of recyclable material in the bin area, and an untethered clinical waste bin. The practice did not have COSHH safety data sheets available for every COSHH identified product used in the practice.

The practice completed infection prevention and control audits in line with current guidance. However, these audits did not highlight that the equipment used for environmental cleaning was not stored in line with guidelines to prevent cross-contamination or that there were no cleaning schedules for less frequently used areas and items or to prompt for deeper cleaning.

The practice did not have effective procedures to reduce the risk of Legionella, or other bacteria, developing in water systems, in line with a risk assessment and current guidance. A number of action points from the 2023 external report where also picked up in the external report conducted in 2025.

Staff received appropriate training and demonstrated knowledge and awareness of decontamination infection prevention and control processes.

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