We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 23 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.

The Sea Road Dental Practice is a general dental practice in East Preston, Littlehampton, West Sussex, offering NHS and private dental treatment to adults and children.

The practice is situated in the village of East Preston. The practice has two treatment rooms, a decontamination room for the cleaning, sterilising and packing of dental instruments, a waiting room and a reception area. The main entrance to the practice is located on the ground floor. The practice is contained on two floors and there is full disabled access. There is a treatment room and disabled toilet on the ground floor.

The practice is open Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5.00pm and Fridays 8.30am to 4.00pm.

The Sea Road Dental Practice has three dentists, three dental nurses (one of whom is a trainee) and two receptionists. The team are supported by a practice manager.

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 eight completed cards. All of the comments cards provided a positive view of the service the practice provides. Patients commented that staff were friendly, supportive and caring.

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 protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment giving due regard to guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society, in the case of the dentist currently not using rubber dam.