We carried out this announced inspection on 10 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.

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 Fountain Dental Practice is in London Borough of Kingston Upon Thames and provides private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including one for patients with disabled badges, are available near the practice.

The dental team includes two dentists, two dental nurses, three dental hygienists, two receptionists and one practice manager. The practice has three treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run.

On the day of inspection, we received feedback from 50 patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

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

The practice is open:

• Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 8:30am to 5:30pm

• Tuesday: 8:00am to 8:00pm

• (Alternate) Saturday: 9:00am to 1:00pm

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures that 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, 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.

People using the service told us they were satisfied with the way the practice was run and the service it provided. People said "I've been coming here thirty years". Other's told us "Very friendly" and "I recommended here to my family and friends".

People confirmed they had the consultation procedure, cost of treatment and any risks attached explained to them.

They told us they were treated with dignity and respect by staff.

They said they thought the practice was kept clean, tidy and observed their right to privacy.

We saw that there were suitable numbers of qualified staff who treated people in a helpful, friendly and knowledgeable way.

The practice was clean and there were effective infection control quality assurance systems in place.

The records kept were up to date and there was a complaints procedure that was accessible to people using the service.