We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 22 January 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.

Background

Eldred Drive Special Care Dental Clinic ‏ is located in the London Borough of Bromley and provides NHS dental services to patients with special care needs who live in Bromley. The service specialises in improvement of the oral health of patients referred to them who have physical, sensory, intellectual, mental, medical, emotional or social impairments.

The staff structure of the practice comprises of seven dentists, two dental therapists and ten dental nurses and an administrator.

Facilities within the practice include two treatment rooms, a dedicated decontamination unit with separate dirty and clean rooms and a waiting area.

The provider’s Director of Operations was 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.

Before the inspection we sent Care Quality Commission (CQC) comment cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice. We received feedback from 45 patients and spoke with six members of staff on the day of the inspection .The feedback we received for patients gave a positive view of the services the practice provides. All of the patients commented that the quality of care was good.

We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 22 January 2016 as part of our planned inspection of all dental practices. The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a lead inspector and a dental specialist adviser.

Our key findings were:

• There were effective processes in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.
• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with best practice guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) .
• Patients were involved in their care and treatment planning.
• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties and equipment was well maintained.
• Staff were trained in and there was appropriate equipment for them to respond to medical emergencies.
• Patients told us that staff were caring and treated them with dignity and respect.
• Patients indicated that they felt they were listened to and that they received good care from a helpful and caring practice team.
• There were processes in place for patients to give their comments and feedback about the service including making complaints and compliments.
• Governance arrangements were in place and there was a clear vision for the smooth running of the practice.

People told us the staff were caring and friendly. A person described the care their child had received as “excellent”. People who used the service understood the care and treatment choices available to them. They were given appropriate information and were involved in making decisions about their care and treatment.

We found that there were suitable procedures for planning and delivery of care, staff were well supported, and appropriate guidance on cleanliness and infection control was followed. Records were stored securely and there were appropriate safeguarding measures in place.