We carried out an announced focussed inspection on 10 May 2017 to follow up on a previous inspection 19 October 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, 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 well-led?

We found that this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Background

College Dental Surgeries is located in Maidstone, Kent and offers general dentistry services on a private basis with the option of a national dental payment plan available. The practice has four dentists, two hygienists, five dental nurses and one receptionist. The team is supported by the practice manager who is also a registered dental nurse.

The practice has four treatment rooms, a separate decontamination room, a spacious reception, two waiting areas, and staff facilities.

The practice is open: Monday – Thursday 8.30am to 5.30pm and Fridays 8.30am to 12.30pm

One of the partners 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.

Our key findings were:

• Infection control procedures were carried out in accordance with current guidance
• The practice had carried out the required checks on staff as required.
• Radiography was carried out in compliance with Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR) 99 and Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulation (IRMER) 2000.

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 19 October 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 not 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

College Dental Surgeries is located in Maidstone, Kent and offers general dentistry services on a private basis with the option of a national dental payment plan available. The practice has four dentists, two hygienists, five dental nurses and one receptionist. The team is supported by the practice manager who is also a registered dental nurse.

The practice has four treatment rooms, a separate decontamination room, a spacious reception, two waiting areas, and staff facilities.

The practice is open: Monday – Thursday 8.30am to 5.30pm and Fridays 8.30am to 12.30pm.

One of the partners 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.

On the day of inspection we received 47 CQC comment cards providing feedback and spoke to nine patients. The patients who provided feedback were very positive about the care and attention to treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be excellent, great at responding to pain requirements, helpful and they were treated with dignity and respect in a clean and tidy environment.

Our key findings were:

• Patient care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with evidence based guidelines, best practice and current regulations.
• Patients received clear explanations about their proposed treatment, costs, benefits and risks and were consistently involved in making decisions about it.
• Patients were treated with dignity and respect and confidentiality was maintained.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs. Appointments were easy to book and emergency slots were available each day for patients requiring urgent treatment.
• There was a complaints system. Staff recorded complaints and cascaded learning to staff.
• The governance systems were effective.
• The practice sought feedback from staff and patients about the services they provided.
• We found that the practice ethos was to provide patient centred dental care in a relaxed and friendly environment.
• Strong and effective leadership was provided by the principal dentist.
• Infection control procedures were not carried out in accordance with current guidance
• The practice had not carried out the required checks on staff before they started work.
• .The practice was clean, spacious and very well maintained.

We identified regulations that were not being met and the provider must:

• Ensure the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols are suitable giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance’.

• Ensure the practice's recruitment policy and procedures are suitable and the recruitment arrangements are in line with Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 to ensure necessary employment checks are in place for all staff and the required specified information in respect of persons employed by the practice is held.

• Ensure that the practice is in compliance with its legal obligations under Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR) 99 and Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulation (IRMER) 2000.