We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 27 April 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 Mary’s House Dental Care is a general dental practice in Shoreham, East Sussex, offering private dental treatment to adults and children.

The practice is situated in the centre of Shoreham. 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. Due to steps at the front of the building, the practice is not accessible for wheelchair users. There is a patient toilet on the first floor.

The practice is open Monday to Thursday 8.00am to 5.30pm and Fridays 8.00am to 3.30pm.

St Mary’s House Dental Care has two dentists (one of whom is also the registered manager), three dental nurses (two of whom also work on reception), two hygienists, a practice co-ordinator 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 13 completed cards. All of the comments cards provided a positive view of the service the practice provides. Patients commented that staff were polite, kind and friendly. Two 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, 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 availability of an interpreter service for patients who do not speak English as their first language.
• Review the system of formal staff meetings including the recording of staff meeting minutes to ensure that any learning points are documented and monitored.
• Review the arrangements for all staff to receive formal fire training.
• Review the practice’s whistleblowing policy, therefore ensuring that all staff are aware of their responsibilities.