We carried out this announced inspection on 24 January 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

19 Bell Street Dental Practice is in Sawbridgeworth and provides private treatment to patients of all ages.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and pushchairs. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes three dentists, two dental nurses, one apprentice dental nurse, one dental hygienist, two dental hygienist therapists, one receptionist and one practice manager/dental nurse. The practice has three treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by two individuals who are the principal dentists there. They have a 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 collected five CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with four other patients. We also received 82 wholly positive CQC share your experience notices. This information gave us a wholly positive view of the practice.

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

The practice is open: Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm.

Our key findings were:

• Strong and effective leadership was provided by the principal dentist and an empowered practice manager. Staff felt involved and supported and worked well as a team.
• The practice was visibly clean and well maintained.
• The practice had well organised systems to assess and manage infection prevention and control 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 an established process for reporting and recording significant events and accidents to ensure they investigated these and took remedial action.
• 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 asked staff and patients for feedback about the services they provided. Patients were wholly positive and happy with the quality of their treatment and the staff who delivered it.
• The practice dealt with complaints positively and efficiently. This included a review of all verbal complaints and comments.
• The appointment system met patients’ needs. Patients could access treatment and urgent care when required.
• Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and were supported in their continued professional development by the principal dentist and practice manager.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:

• Review the practice’s protocols for conscious sedation, taking into account guidelines published by The Intercollegiate Advisory Committee on Sedation in Dentistry in the document 'Standards for Conscious Sedation in the Provision of Dental Care 2015’.