The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Riverway Dental Centre

83 London Road, Great Tarpots, Benfleet, Essex, SS7 5TG 07595 306876

Provided and run by:
M Kurian Associates Limited

All Inspections

During an assessment under our new approach

We undertook a follow-up off-site inspection on 20 November 2025. This was carried out to review the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to assess whether the practice was meeting legal requirements.

We had previously undertaken an announced on-site inspection of Riverway Dental Centre on 14 August 2025. We had found the registered provider was not providing well-led care and was in breach of regulation 17 Good Governance of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

During our follow-up inspection, we found the practice had met regulations.

The practice had systems to identify and manage risks, including infection prevention and control. Audits and risk assessments were undertaken in line with recommended guidance and timeframes. Outcomes and actions from completed audits and risk assessments were either completed or in progress.

Riverway Dental Centre is in Benfleet, Essex and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There was a portable ramp for step-free access to the practice and car parking spaces available, including dedicated parking for disabled people, outside the practice.

The practice had 1 treatment room. At the time of our inspection, there was a total of 3 staff, of which there was 1 dentist, 1 dental nurse and 1 receptionist. We gathered feedback from the provider through telephone calls, emails and attachments.

The service provides cosmetic treatments, some of which are not in scope of CQC regulation and are not covered in our inspection.

 

21 October 2016

During a routine inspection

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 21 October 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

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

Are services effective?

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

Are services caring?

We found that this practice was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations.

Are services responsive?

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

Are services well-led?

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

Background

The practice is located within a purpose adapted residential building in Benfleet, Essex and offers a range of private preventative, restorative and cosmetic dental treatments to adults and children.

The practice is open and offers appointments for patients at the following times; between 8am and 7pm on Mondays, 9am and 7pm on Tuesdays, open for emergency treatments only on Wednesdays and Saturdays and between 8am and 5pm on Thursdays and Fridays.

The practice employs one dentist, one trainee dental nurse and one receptionist.

The practice is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an organisation. The principal dentist is the registered manager. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

The practice has one treatment room, a combined waiting room and a reception area. Decontamination takes place within a dedicated space in the dental treatment room. (Decontamination is the process by which dirty and contaminated instruments are bought from the treatment room, washed, inspected, sterilised and sealed in pouches ready for use again).

Our key findings were:

  • The practice had systems in place for investigating and learning from complaints, safety incidents and accidents. Staff were aware of their responsibilities to report incidents.
  • The practice was visibly clean and clutter free. Infection control practices were reviewed and audited to test their effectiveness.
  • There were systems in place to help keep people safe, including safeguarding vulnerable children and adults. Staff undertook training and were aware of their roles and responsibilities.
  • The practice referred to and used current guidance in relation to dentistry when assessing patients’ needs and delivering treatment.
  • The practice medicines and equipment for use in the event of a medical emergency were in line with current guidelines. Records were maintained in respect of the checks carried out for these medicines and equipment.
  • Staff undertook training in respect of their roles and responsibilities within the practice.
  • Patients reported that they were treated with respect and that staff were polite and helpful.
  • Patients were involved in making decisions about their care and treatments.
  • The practice offered a flexible appointment service to meet the needs of patients and could normally arrange a routine appointment within a few days or emergency appointments mostly on the same day.
  • Effective governance arrangements were in place for the smooth running of the service.
  • Audits and reviews were carried out used to make improvements to the service.
  • Patient’s views were sought and these were used to make improvements to the service where these were identified.

During an assessment under our new approach

We carried out this announced on-site inspection on 14 August 2025.

We found the practice had not met all regulations.

The practice had some systems to identify and manage risks, including infection prevention and control. However, checks and systems were not always documented. Audits and risk assessments were not undertaken in line with recommended guidance or timeframes. There was limited evidence of any outcomes or actions from completed audits and risk assessments.

Where actions had been identified as required, there was limited evidence to confirm these had been undertaken or reviewed.

Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles.

Recruitment procedures reflected current legislation. However, there was scope to ensure effective leadership and a culture of continuous improvement was established.

Staff provided care and treatment in line with current guidance. They treated patients with dignity and respect and ensured access to care, support and treatment when required.

Riverway Dental Centre is in Benfleet, Essex and provides private dental care and treatment for adults and children.

There was a portable ramp for step-free access to the practice and car parking spaces available, including dedicated parking for disabled people, outside the practice.

The practice had 1 treatment room. At the time of our inspection, there was a total of 3 staff, of which there were 1 dentist, 1 dental nurse and 1 receptionist. We gathered feedback from staff and spoke to all 3 staff during our inspection.

The service provides cosmetic treatments, some of which are not in scope of CQC regulation and are not covered in our inspection.

The provider was not complying with 1 regulation. Full details of the regulation the provider was not meeting are within the inspection report.

We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this inspection.