We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 16 February 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.

St James Practice is a general dental practice in East Grinstead, West Sussex, offering private dental treatment to adults and children.

The practice is situated in the centre of East Grinstead. The practice has two treatment rooms, a decontamination area for the cleaning, sterilising and packing of dental instruments and a waiting/reception area. The main entrance to the practice on the ground floor. The practice is contained on one floor and has full disabled access.

The practice is open Monday 8.30am to 5.00pm, Tuesday 8.00am to 5.00pm, Wednesday 8.30am to 3.00pm, Thursday 8.00am to 5.00pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.00pm. The practice offers evening and Saturday appointments at the request of patients.

St James Practice has two principal dentists (one of whom is the registered manager), one associate dentist, one dental nurse, one hygienist and one receptionist. 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 11 completed cards. All of the comments cards provided a positive view of the service the practice provides. Patients commented that staff were helpful, friendly and caring. One patient wrote that they were listened to and felt safe. Another patient commented that the practice was clean and welcoming.

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, oxygen cylinder 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.

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

• Review the practice’s infection control procedures and protocols giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Department of Health - Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices and The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance, particularly with regards to the storage of cleaning equipment at the practice.