We carried out this announced inspection on 28 August 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.

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

Seaside Dental Practice is in Eastbourne and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including some for blue badge holders, are available on the practice forecourt.

The dental team includes eight dentists, ten dental nurses, two dental hygiene therapists, two receptionists and a practice manager who is also a registered nurse. The practice has seven treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a company and as a condition of registration 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 Seaside Dental practice is the head dental nurse who is also the compliance manager.

On the day of inspection, we collected 65 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with five other patients.

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

The practice is open:

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8.30am to 5pm

Tuesday 8.30am to 7.30pm

Saturday 9am to 1pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The provider 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 to patients and staff.
• The practice staff had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• The provider 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 provider was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
• 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 provider dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The provider had suitable information governance arrangements.

We identified areas of notable practice.

The practice was actively involved with a charity organisation; providing services for patients who are socially deprived via the Matthew 25 Mission. The Matthew 25 Mission is a Christian charity offering practical assistance and support to anyone in need regardless of race, religion, age or gender. They are an Eastbourne based registered charity assisting people in need and offering practical help and support to anyone who needs it. Volunteers at the Matthew 25 Mission aim to support people trying to rebuild broken lives, especially those with life-threatening addiction, loneliness, bereavement, unemployment, homelessness, offending and more.

The practice provided personal protective equipment to the Age Concern charity “SHED”

The practice participated in raising awareness of health conditions, such as, wearing pink gloves for breast cancer awareness. Light blue ribbons for oral cancer awareness. Dark blue ribbons for Prostate cancer awareness.

People we spoke with told us that they understood the treatment options and choices, and were happy with the treatment they received. They told us they were treated respectfully and staff were always polite.