We carried out this announced inspection on 14 September 2017 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.

We told the NHS England area tea that we were inspecting the practice. They provided information which we took into account.

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

Dr Parisa Akhavan-Tabib - Dartmouth Road (also known as Family Dental Care & Sedation Clinic) is in the London Borough of Lewisham and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes four dentists, one foundation dentist, one oral surgeon, two dental nurses. one trainee dental nurse and a practice manager. The practice has three treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They 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 collected 34 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, two dental nurses and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open:

Monday 9:pm- 8:pm

Tuesday 9:pm-8:pm

Wednesday 9:pm-8:pm

Thursday 9:pm-8:pm

Friday 9:pm-8:pm

Saturday 9:pm-3:30pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice was 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 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 dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

We spoke with three patients during our inspection. They were all satisfied with the treatments they had received and made favourable comments about the surgery. One patient told us, "I've mainly be coming here for routine check-ups, but they also give good advice." Another patient told us, "The staff are very nice, they're helpful."

There were arrangements in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection, including staff training, policies and procedures, decontamination arrangements and audits.

Staff were supported in their work and had access to continuing professional development (CPD). Subjects covered as part of staff CPD included a range of topics related to their professional work, such as protection of vulnerable adults, infection control, medical emergencies and consent practices.

Quality monitoring arrangements were in place in the service, including survey questionnaires, audits and incidents recording and management.