We carried out this unannounced inspection on 10 April 2017 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

Care Dental Limited in Edgware, London provides NHS and private dental treatment to patients of all ages.

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

Practice staffing consists of the two principal dentists, two associate dentist, one dental therapist, one hygienist, three dental nurses and two receptionist s

One of the associate dentists is the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.

The practice is open Monday to Friday 9am and Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturdays 9am to 3pm

The practice facilities include three treatment rooms, a decontamination room, reception/waiting area and staff room

Four patients provided feedback about the service. Patients who we spoke with were very positive about the care they received from the service. Patients told us that they were happy with the treatment and advice they had received.

During the inspection we spoke with both of the principal dentists, one dental nurse and the receptionist. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is manage

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• 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 appointment system met patients’ needs.
• The practice had effective leadership. 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.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. However not all appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.

We spoke with three patients who were waiting for treatment during our visit to the service. They all told us that the dentists were very good, and that they were able to ask questions and discuss any concerns about their treatment. One person said, “They are very friendly, this is why I come back here. I tell all my family how good they are.” Another person said that the dentist was "very good at explaining everything calmly."

The analysis of the latest quarterly patient satisfaction survey showed that approximately 75% of patients were recommended to the practice. We spoke with a new patient who said that they were registering with the service because they were recommended. Another person also told us that they were recommended by a friend when they were not happy with their previous dentist. They said, “He is a very, very good dentist.”

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with each person’s individual treatment plan. The patient records that we saw contained information on each treatment, and on the advice that was given.

People who use the service were protected from the risk of abuse. Staff were aware of their responsibilities for reporting any concerns about the safety and protection of children and vulnerable adults using the service.

There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. The patients we spoke with told us that the surgery was always very clean.