We carried out this announced inspection on 18 January 2018 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 NHS England and Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice. They did not provide any information.

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

Montpelier Dental Care is located in Brighton. It provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

The practice occupies premises over four floors. There are five treatment rooms, a decontamination room and a reception and patient waiting area.

The dental team includes the principal dentist, four associate dentists, one dental hygienist, six qualified dental nurses, two trainee dental nurses and three receptionists. The practice was in the process of appointing a practice manager.

The practice is registered with the Care Quality Commission as part of Alliance Dental Care Limited organisation. As a condition of registration they 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 Montpelier Dental Care was the principal dentist.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, four nurses, two receptionists, and two area managers for the company. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

On the day of inspection we collected feedback about the service from 26 patients.

The practice is open: Monday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm and Friday from 9am to 4pm.

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 appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided.
• The practice dealt with complaints in an appropriate manner.