We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 16 July 2015 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.

Brigstock Dental Practice is located in the London Borough of Croydon. The premises are on two floors and consist of seven treatment rooms, two dedicated decontamination rooms, two waiting rooms with one reception area, an administrative office, a staff room and two toilets.

The practice provides NHS and private dental services and treats both adults and children. The practice offers a range of dental services including routine examinations and treatment, veneers, crowns and bridges, and oral hygiene.

The practice is owned in a partnership consisting of one senior principal dentist, two other principal dentists and a practice manager. Additionally, there are three associate dentists and one trainee dentist, a hygienist, four fully-qualified dental nurses, two trainee nurses and two receptionists.

The practice is open Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 6.00pm and on Saturday from 9.00am to 1.00pm.

The practice changed its registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in May 2014 following the setting up of the new partnership structure. It has not been inspected since that time. One of the principal dentists is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with CQC to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

We carried out an announced, comprehensive inspection on 16 July 2015. The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a specialist advisor.

49 people provided feedback about the service. Patients we spoke with, and those who completed comment cards, were positive about the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the friendly and caring attitude of the dental staff.

Our key findings were:

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with best practice guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

• There were effective systems in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.

• Equipment, such as the air compressor, autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.

• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.

• Staff reported incidents and kept records of these which the practice used for shared learning.

• Patients indicated that they felt they were listened to and that they received good care from a helpful and patient practice team.

• The practice ensured staff maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.

• The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.

• The principal dentists had a clear vision for the practice and staff told us they were well supported by the management team.

• Governance arrangements and audits were effective in improving the quality and safety of the services.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review recruitment procedures to ensure that a full employment history, at least two references, and records of other relevant background checks are sought and kept for all members of staff.

• Review availability of equipment to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK).

• Monitor and record the temperature of the fridge where dental products and medicines are stored to ensure temperatures remain within the recommended range.