We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 30 March 2016 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.

Smileworks is a general dental practice in Brighton, East Sussex, offering private dental treatment to adults and children.

The practice is situated on the outskirts of Brighton. The practice has two treatment rooms, a decontamination room for the cleaning, sterilising and packing of dental instruments and a waiting/ reception area. The main entrance to the practice is located on the ground floor of the building. The practice is contained on one floor and there is full disabled access. There is a patient toilet next to the waiting area.

The practice is open Monday to Thursday 8.00am to 5.00pm and Fridays 8.00am to 1.00pm. The practice offers evening and Saturday appointments at the request of patients.

Smileworks has one dentist (who is also the registered manager), one trainee dental nurse, a hygienist and a practice manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

Before the inspection we sent Care Quality Commission (CQC) comments cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice. We collected 27 completed cards. All of the comments cards provided a positive view of the service the practice provides. Patients commented that staff were supportive, professional and caring. Several patients commented that the practice was clean and hygienic.

Our key findings were:

• There were systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. The practice was visibly clean and well maintained.
• There were systems in place to check all equipment had been serviced regularly, including the steriliser, fire extinguishers and the X-ray equipment.
• The practice had effective systems in place to gain the comments and views of people who used the service.
• Patients were satisfied with the treatment they received and were complimentary about staff at the practice.
• Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and were supported in their continued professional development (CPD).
• We observed that staff showed a caring and attentive approach towards patients. All patients were recognised and greeted warmly on arrival at reception.
• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• Staff were proud of the practice and their team. Staff felt well supported and were committed to providing a quality service to their patients.