We carried out this announced inspection on 4 October 2017 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.

We told the NHS England area team that we were inspecting the practice. They had no information of concern.

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

The Fenton Dental Studio in the London borough of Enfield and provides NHS and private dental treatment to patients of all ages.

Practice staffing consists of two principal dentists, one hygienist, two dental nurses and one trainee dental nurse

The practice is owned by a partnership 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 The Fenton Dental Studio was one of the principal dentists

The practice is open Monday 9am to 5pm, Tuesday 1.30pm to 8.30pm Wednesday 8am to 8.30pm Thursday 9am to 8pm and every other Friday and Saturday 9am to 1pm

The practice facilities include one treatment room a decontamination room, waiting area, reception area and a staff room.

On the day of inspection we collected feedback from 21 patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

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

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice 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.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• The practice 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 appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. 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 practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.

We were able to speak to patients of the dental practice. They indicated that they had been treated with respect and dignity. They expressed satisfaction with the care and treatment provided.

Patients made positive comments about staff and indicated that they had confidence in the dentists and other staff who attended to them. Patients said that they “felt welcomed by the staff ”. Patients also said the dentist was “very good”.

Assessments and treatment plans had been prepared for patients. Treatment had been given with patients’ agreement and written consent.

The premises were clean and well maintained. There were arrangements for infection control checks and daily cleaning tasks. Staff were knowledgeable regarding infection control and decontamination procedures for equipment and instruments used. There was documented evidence that equipment used had been maintained and inspected by contractors.