18a Charing Cross Dental Surgery

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.

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 most 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.

Most emergency equipment and medicines were available. Staff could access these in a timely way. Improvements were required to ensure that the medical emergency kit included all equipment necessary as advised by the Resuscitation Council UK. Following the inspection, the practice promptly ordered self-inflating bags with reservoirs in both adult and child sizes. Immediate action was also taken to order a thermometer, and a log was introduced to monitor the storage of Glucagon (a medicine used to treat low blood sugar) and dental materials kept in the fridge. Staff 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.

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 management of fire safety was effective, and fire exits were clear and well signposted. We were told that the landlord took responsibility for the testing and maintenance of fire safety equipment and emergency lighting, we did not see evidence of a service level agreement or records of routine testing. The provider took immediate action and following inspection records of maintenance and servicing were available and assurances that these would be kept in the future.

Improvements were required to the practice’s protocols for medicines management. Following feedback from the inspection team, the practice took immediate action and ensured all medicines were stored securely.

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.

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.

The practice had some arrangements to ensure staff training, including continuing professional development, was reviewed at the required intervals. However, on the day of the inspection, we saw that not all staff had completed training in how to interact appropriately with people with a learning disability and autistic people. In addition, trainee dental nurses had not completed training in safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults to a level appropriate to their role. The practice sent evidence that this training had been completed immediately after our inspection.

There were effective processes to support and develop staff with additional roles and responsibilities. Staff discussed their learning needs, general well-being and aims for future professional development during annual appraisals and 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 that reflected published guidance.

Improvements could be made to introduce cleaning checklists, to aid with the auditing of the effectiveness of the cleaning process.

Staff received appropriate training and demonstrated knowledge and awareness of 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 practice had effective procedures to reduce the risk of Legionella, or other bacteria, developing in water systems, in line with a risk assessment and current guidance.

The practice had protocols to ensure effective cleaning and safe segregation and disposal of hazardous waste.The equipment in use was maintained and serviced as per manufacturers’ instructions.

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.