We carried out this announced inspection on 21 June 2018 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

Woodbury Practice is in South Woodford in the London Borough of Redbridge. The practice provides private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is step frees access to the practice via a portable ramp and two surgeries are located on the ground floor. The practice is situated close to public transport bus and train services. There are disabled car parking spaces at the front of the practice.

The dental team includes two principal dental partners, one associate dentist and two specialist dentists. In addition to the dentists, three dental hygienists, two dental nurses and one trainee dental nurse work at the practice. The clinical team are supported by a practice manager, an assistant practice manager and two receptionists. The practice has four treatment rooms, three of which were in use at the time of our inspection.

The practice is owned by 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 Woodbury Practice was the practice manager.

On the day of inspection we received feedback from 26 patients.

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

The practice is open:

Mondays and Tuesdays 8am to 6pm.

Wednesdays and Thursdays 8am to 7pm

Fridays 8am to 1pm

Saturdays 9am to 1pm

The practice closes between 1pm and 2pm each day for lunch

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared 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 practice was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership and culture of continuous improvement.
• 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.
• The practice had suitable information governance arrangements.