We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 19/10/2016 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

IQ Orthodontics Limited is a dental and orthodontic practice providing private and NHS treatment for both adults and children. The practice is based in a bespoke building in West Byfleet, Surrey which is situated close to the train station. The practice has two dental treatment rooms. There is a separate decontamination facility used for cleaning, sterilising and the packing of dental instruments. There is also a separate x ray room. The practice is fully accessible to wheelchair users, prams and patients with limited mobility. The practice employs three dentist, three dental nurses and one receptionist. The practice’s opening hours are Monday, Tuesday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, Wednesday and Thursday 09.00am to 19.00pm and Friday 09.00am to 16.00pm.

There are arrangements to ensure patients receive urgent dental assistance when the practice is closed. This is provided by the principle dentists.

Dr Bilal Qureshi is the principle dentist, registered manager and the nominated individual for the company. 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. The nominated individual must be employed as a director, manager or secretary of the organisation (i.e. they should be a senior person, with authority to speak on behalf of the organisation). They must also be in a position which carries responsibility for supervising the management of the carrying on of the dental practice (i.e. they must be in a position to speak, authoritatively, on behalf of the organisation, about the way that the service is provided.

We spoke with one patient on the day of our inspection and reviewed 50 comment cards that had been completed by patients. Common themes were patients overall were satisfied with the friendly and caring treatment they had received. We also noted a number of comment cards which described how nervous, anxious or vulnerable patients were taken extra care of by the staff at the practice, to ensure they were given extra time and reassurance.

Our key findings were:

• We found that the practice ethos was to provide patient centred dental care in a relaxed and friendly environment.

• Leadership was provided by the principle dentist who was also the registered manager.

• Staff had been trained to handle medical emergencies and use appropriate medicines Life-saving equipment was readily available in accordance with current guidelines.

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.

• There was appropriate equipment for staff to undertake their duties, and equipment was well maintained.

• Infection control procedures were of a high standard and the practice followed published guidance.

• The registered manager acted as the safeguarding lead with effective processes for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.

• There was a process for the reporting and shared learning when untoward incidents occurred in the practice.

• Dentists provided dental care in accordance with current professional and National Institute for Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.

• The service was aware of the needs of the local population and took these into account in how the practice was run.

• Patients could access treatment and urgent and emergency dental care when required.

• Staff received training appropriate to their roles and were supported in their continued professional development (CPD) by the practice owner.

• Staff we spoke with felt very well supported by the practice owner and were committed to providing a quality service to their patients.

•Patients told us through comment cards they were treated with kindness and respect by staff. The practice always ensured there was sufficient time to explain fully the care and treatment they were providing in a way patients understood.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

The practice's recruitment policy needs reviewing so that staff files are in line with Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, specifically by ensuring all checks in respect of employment at the practice are included into the staff file.