We carried out this announced inspection on 8 May 2019 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

Dental Fitness Clinic is in Romford in the London Borough of Havering. The practice provides NHS and private dental treatment patients of all ages.

The practice is located on the ground and first floor in a purpose adapted premises. The practice has four treatment rooms, three of which are located on the ground floor. There is step free access to the practice. The practice is located close to public transport services.

The dental team includes two dentists who own the practice, one associate dentist, two dental hygienists and five dental nurses. The clinical team are supported a team of four receptionists.

The practice is owned by a partnership between two dentists 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 Dental Fitness Clinic was the one of the dentist partners.

On the day of our inspection we received feedback from 41 patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the partner dentists, the associate dentist, two dental nurses, and one receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open on Mondays to Thursdays between 9am and 5.30pm and between 9am and 4.30pm on Fridays.

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.
• 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 arrangements to deal with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The practice had suitable information governance arrangements.

People who used this dental practice told us that they were pleased with the quality of the service provided. They felt they were treated respectfully and said that treatments were clearly explained to them. One person said “because of a bad experience many years ago I had not been to the dentist for 20 years and I was very nervous. They were helpful and supportive and have restored my faith in dentists.”

Staff received the training and support that they needed to provide a safe and appropriate service that met people’s care and welfare needs. The provider monitored and assessed staff work practice to ensure that they were carrying out their duties correctly and safely.

The service received very few complaints but any that were made were looked into and responded to appropriately. The provider sought feedback from people who used the service and used this information to help them provide a safe and appropriate service.

Systems were in place to ensure that people were treated in a safe, clean and hygienic environment.