We carried out this unannounced inspection on 29 June 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 Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.

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

Peckham Dental Care Limited is in Peckham, in the London Borough of Southwark. It provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Restricted car parking spaces, including those for patients with disabled badges, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes a practice manager, five dentists, five dental nurses, a dental hygienist, and a receptionist. The practice has three treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the CQC 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 the practice was the practice manager.

On the day of inspection we spoke with two patients. This information gave us a mixed view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with three dentists, three dental nurses, and the practice manager. We also spoke with two of the company’s compliance managers who attended the inspection. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

Our key findings were:

• 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.
• 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.
• The practice was clean, though improvements were needed to ensure areas of the premises were well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which mostly reflected published guidance. Improvements were needed to ensure that staff carried out regular efficacy tests for the ultrasonic bath.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information at the reception desk and in the treatment rooms. Improvements were needed to ensure paper dental care records were stored securely.

Shortly after the inspection the practice took steps to address issues we had identified.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Review the practice's protocols for completion of dental care records taking into account guidance provided by the Faculty of General Dental Practice regarding clinical examinations and record keeping.
• Review the suitability of the premises and ensure all parts are well-maintained and fit for the purpose for which they are being used.

The people we spoke with told us that the dentists gave them information about the options for treatment and answered any questions they had. They said that staff were friendly and that the dentists were caring.