Simply Orthodontics - Orpington

We carried out this announced inspection on 18 July 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 Care Quality Commission (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

Simply Orthodontics - Orpington is based in the London Borough of Bromley and provides NHS and private orthodontic treatment to patients of all ages.

The practice is located on the ground, first and second floors of the premises. There is a ramp available at the rear of the practice for wheelchair users. There is parking available for patients and staff at the rear of the practice.

The dental team includes a practice manager, five orthodontists, three orthodontic therapists, two orthodontic dental nurses, a lead dental nurse, three dental nurses, two receptionists and an administrator. The practice has three treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an organisation 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 Simply Orthodontics – Orpington was the principal dentist.

On the day of inspection, we obtained feedback from 16 patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the practice manager, the lead dental nurse, an orthodontist, two orthodontic therapists, the receptionists, an orthodontic nurse and a dental nurse. We checked practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open from Monday to Friday between 8.30am to 5.30pm, with late opening until 7.30pm on some Thursdays.

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 and a culture of continuous improvement.
• 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 had suitable information governance arrangements.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.