We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 19 May 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.

Oasis Dental Care Central – South Woodford is located in the London Borough of Redbridge. The practice is on the ground and first floor and comprises of four surgeries and a decontamination room. There was also a reception and waiting area. Toilet facilities for patients were also available on the first floor.

The practice provides NHS and private dental services and treats both adults and children. The practice offers a range of dental services including routine examinations and treatment.

The staff structure of the practice comprises of a practice manager, six dentists, a hygienist, five dental nurses and two receptionists. The practice was open Monday to Thursday from 8am-7pm, Friday from 8am-3.30pm and Saturdays from 9am-2pm.

The practice manager is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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 inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor.

We received feedback from 11 patients. The feedback from the patients was positive in relation to the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.

Our key findings were:

• The practice had systems in place to receive alerts from relevant external organisations such as Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
• The practice had policies and procedures in place for child protection and safeguarding adults.
• There were arrangements in place to deal with foreseeable emergencies
• There was a complaints procedure available for patients.
• There were systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. Staff had access to an automated external defibrillator (AED) and other equipment and medicines to manage medical emergencies in line with current guidance
• Equipment, such as the air compressor and autoclave (steriliser), were serviced to check their effectiveness.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned.
• Patients indicated that they felt they were listened to and that they received good care from the practice staff.
• There was evidence of staff’s continuing professional development (CPD) activity and it was being suitably monitored.

The governance arrangements in place needed improvement to better guide the management of the practice.

There were areas where the practice could make improvements and should:

• Review the use of risk assessments to monitor and mitigate the various risks arising from undertaking of the regulated activities.