At our last inspection in January 2014 we found that the service did not have effective recruitment procedures in order to ensure staff employed to provide personal care were of good character and that checks were obtained. We judged this concern to have a minor impact on people who used the service.

The provider was required to submit a plan detailing the action they would take to ensure compliance with this standard and the date at which they would be compliant. The provider told us in their plan that they would be compliant with this standard by 30 April 2014.

At this inspection we reviewed the progress the provider had made and found that they had taken sufficient action to address the area of concern and that people were cared for, or supported by, suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff.

During our visit we spoke with four people who use the service, two dental nurses, two dentists, one receptionist and the practice manager.

People we spoke with told us they were satisfied with the information they received. One person told us that they were always given a full explanation and description of treatment before they made their choice.

We observed that care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people’s safety and welfare. One person told us, “Myself and my daughter are very nervous patients. My daughter is now happy to come to dentist again after previous bad experience at the last practice”.

People who use the service were protected from the risk of abuse, because the provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening. One person we spoke with told us they felt the staff was very caring and patient. Another said “I don’t like coming to the dentist but they are very kind when giving me my treatment”.

There were arrangements in place to deal with foreseeable medical emergencies.

People old us the practice was clean. One person told us, “The practice looks and smells clean”. Effective infection control systems were maintained to reduce the risk and spread of infection. However, the infection control lead had not recorded that checks of the standard of cleaning had been done.

The service did not have effective recruitment procedures in order to ensure staff employed to provide treatment were of good character before they started work.

There was an effective complaints system available. Complaints people made were responded to appropriately. All of the four people we spoke with told us they knew how to complain.

People were very positive about the service that they received from Apex Dental Care – Portsmouth. People told us that they received a friendly service, were kept well informed and were offered choice about their care.