We carried out this announced inspection of Perfect Smile Clinic 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.

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

Perfect Smile Clinic is a well-established practice based in Sudbury that provides mostly NHS treatment to patients of all ages. The dental team includes six dentists, two hygienists, six dental nurses, one dental hygienist and two receptionists who serve about 3,800 patients. The practice has four treatment rooms and is open on Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 5pm.

There is ramp access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs, but no disabled toilet facilities.

The practice 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 Perfect Smile is one of the owners.

On the day of our inspection we collected 16 comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with two other patients. This information gave us a very positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses, and the practice manager. We looked at the practice’s policies and procedures, and other records about how the service was managed.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures that 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 protecting adults and children.
• 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 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.