Silk Mill Dental Care

We saw that suitable flooring had been fitted in the additional consulting room, and a protocol and risk assessment were in place for the use of this room.

Clinical staff told us they were responsible for maintaining their continual professional development, and completed a number of compulsory learning modules, which were externally assessed. Staff also told they had attended refresher training on surgery disinfection / instrument sterilisation and fire training.

Staff told us how they monitored the running of the service and acted on comments received from people. They told us they had identified that more people could be seen by the hygienist rather than the dentist to free up appointments, and this change was being implemented. The seating in the waiting room had been changed following comments from people that the chairs were too low.

People received care and treatment that was planned to meet their needs. The information recorded in people's notes following their appointment needed to include more detail. People we spoke with told us that appointments were easy to book. One person said, 'It's always easy to get an appointment.'

The practice had procedures in place to provide a safe environment of care. Background criminal records checks had been completed for all staff to ensure they were suitable to be working in the practice. There were systems and procedures in place to ensure that all dental instruments used were thoroughly cleaned and sterilised between each use. The assessment of cross infection risks in the practice had not been completed for all areas where treatment was taking place.

We spoke with the three members of staff, who all felt they had been well supported and were happy with the on-going training opportunities and time provided. There was no formal schedule of individual supervision and appraisal, to ensure any concerns with individual staff practice could be addressed appropriately.