We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 29 September 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

Family Dental Centre is located in the Royal Borough of Kingston and provides private and NHS dental services. The opening hours for the practice were Monday to Friday 9.00 am- 18.30 pm and Saturday 9.00 am - 13.00 pm.

The premises consists of three treatment rooms, separate dirty and clean decontamination rooms and waiting area.

The practice comprises of two principal dentists, two dentists, two trainee nurse, two dental nurses and one receptionist.

One of the principal dentists 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.

During the inspection we asked patients to complete CQC comment cards. We received 49 comment cards and spoke with four patients on the day of the inspection. The patients who provided feedback were positive about the care and treatment they received at the practice. They told us they were involved in all aspects of their care and found the staff to be caring, friendly and helpful and they were treated with care, dignity and respect.

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 current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Delivering Better Oral Health. 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.
• There were good governance arrangements and an effective management structure.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should

• Review the storage of dental care products and medicines requiring refrigeration to ensure they are stored in line with the manufacturer’s guidance and the fridge temperature is monitored and recorded.

• Review the security of prescription pads in the practice and ensure there are systems in place to monitor and track their use.

• Review the practice’s sharps procedures giving due regard to the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013

Family Dental Care was a friendly and professionally managed dental service providing NHS and private dentistry to adults and children. The practice provided a wide range of information about dental services and treatment costs. During our visit people we spoke with told us they were satisfied with the information they received about treatment options and costs. One person said "I like the way the dentist explains things to me".

We observed that care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people’s safety and welfare. We saw that effective infection control systems were maintained to reduce the risk and spread of infection and there were arrangements in place to deal with foreseeable emergencies. People we spoke with commented on the cleanliness of the practice one person said "It is very clean the treatment rooms are spotless".

Records we reviewed demonstrated that there were effective recruitment and selection processes in place and that staff were recruited following a robust selection procedure which included relevant pre-employment checks. We saw that practice improvement audits were carried out and changes implemented as a result.