We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 30 September 2015 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

Silicon Dental Centre is located in the London Borough of Ealing. The practice is based on the first floor of the building and access is via the stairs or a stair lift. There is no wheelchair access to the first floor. The practice consists of three treatment rooms, a dedicated decontamination room, an administration office, and a reception area. There are also patient toilet facilities.

The practice provides NHS and private dental services and treats both adults and children. The practice offers a range of dental services including routine examinations and treatment, root canal work, veneers, crowns and bridges, tooth extraction, dental implants and oral hygiene.

The staff structure of the practice consists of a principal dentist, three associate dentists, three dental nurses, a hygienist, a receptionist and an administration assistant. Two of the associate dentists were also qualified as vocational trainers and were currently supervising a trainee dentist at the practice.

The practice is open Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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 inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a specialist advisor.

We received 28 CQC comment cards completed by patients and spoke with six patients during our inspection visit. Patients we spoke with, and those who completed comment cards, were positive about the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the staff.

Our key findings were:

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

• There were effective systems in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.
• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.

• Equipment, such as the air compressor, autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.

• Risks to patients and staff had been suitably assessed and mitigated

• Patients indicated that they felt they were listened to and that they received good care from a helpful and caring practice team.

• The practice had implemented procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.

• The principal dentist had a clear vision for the practice and staff told us they were well supported by the management team.

• Governance arrangements and audits were effective in improving the quality and safety of the services.

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

• Improve the documentation of practice meetings.