Updated 30 December 2020
We carried out this announced inspection on 7 December 2020 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
The practice is located in Steyning and provides NHS and some private treatment to patients of all ages. It is part of the South Cliff Dental Group which provide general dental services in West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and Wiltshire. The practice shares its premises with Steyning Health Centre, where a number of different health care organisations are located. The staff team includes two associate dentists, one dental hygienist, two dental nurses, a receptionist and a practice manager. There are three treatment rooms.
The practice is owned by a company and is registered with the Care Quality Commission and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. A registered manager is legally responsible for the delivery of services for which the practice is registered. At the time of inspection there was no registered manager in post as required as a condition of registration.
The practice is open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm. It also opens about two Saturdays a month by appointment only.
On the day of inspection, we spoke with the chief executive officer, the practice manager, the clinical director, the operations manager, two dentists and two dental nurses. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
Our key findings were:
- Premises and equipment were clean and properly maintained and the practice followed national guidance for cleaning, sterilising and storing dental instruments.
- The provider had systems to help them manage risk to patients and staff.
- The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
- The practice had thorough staff recruitment procedures.
- Staff knew how to deal with emergencies and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
- Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidelines. Staff provided preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
- Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and protected their privacy and personal information.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Take action to ensure the regulated activities at the practice are managed by an individual who is registered as a manager.
- Take action to improve the security of NHS prescription pads in the practice and implement systems to track and monitor their use.
- Take action to implement an effective staff appraisal system.
- Implement audits for prescribing of antibiotic medicines taking into account the guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice.