Updated 5 September 2018
We carried out this announced inspection on 8 August 2018 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 CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we always ask the following five questions:
• Is it safe?
• Is it effective?
• Is it caring?
• Is it responsive to people’s needs?
• 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 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
Aura Dental is in St. John’s Wood in the London Borough of Westminster. The practice provides private treatment to patients of all ages.
There is step frees access to the practice and the practice has seven treatment rooms. Three of the treatment rooms, all located on the ground floor were in use at the time of our inspection. The practice is situated close to public transport bus and train services.
The dental team includes the principal dentist and six associate dentists who provide general dentistry and specialist orthodontic and prosthodontic treatments. Two dental nurses and two dental hygienists also work at the practice. The clinical team are supported by a business director, a practice manager, a marketing manager and an administrator / receptionist.
The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager at Aura Dental was the business director.
On the day of inspection we received feedback from four patients.
During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentist, the business director, the practice manager, one dental nurse and the administrator / receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Mondays to Fridays between 9am and 6pm.
Saturdays between 9am and 4pm.
Our key findings were:
- The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
- The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- The practice had systems to help them manage risk.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
- The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- The clinical staff provided patients’ care and treatment in line with current guidelines.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
- The practice was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
- The appointment system met patients’ needs.
- The practice had effective leadership.
- Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
- The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
- The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
- The practice had suitable information governance arrangements.