We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 19 January 2016 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.

Church Road Dental Care is a general dental practice in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, offering NHS and private dental treatment to adults and children.

The practice is situated in the centre of Burgess Hill. The practice has three treatment rooms, a decontamination room for the cleaning, sterilising and packing of dental instruments and a waiting/reception area. The main entrance to the practice is located on the first floor of the premises. One of the treatment rooms is located on the second floor and two are located on the first floor. The practice does not have full disabled access due to the stairs.

The practice is open Monday to Thursday 9.00am to 5.30pm and 9.00am to 5.00pm on Fridays. The practice offers Saturday morning and evening appointments at the request of patients.

Church Road Dental Care has two dentists (one of whom is the owner and registered manager), two dental nurses, one hygienist and two receptionists. The 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.

Before the inspection we sent Care Quality Commission (CQC) comments cards to the practice for patients to complete to tell us about their experience of the practice. We collected 49 completed cards. All of the comments cards provided a positive view of the service the practice provides. Patients commented that staff were polite, friendly and caring. Patients wrote that they were treated with dignity and respect. Many patients commented that the practice was safe and hygienic. We also spoke with one patient during our inspection who was highly satisfied with the treatment and support they had received at the practice.

Our key findings were:

• There were systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. The practice was visibly clean and well maintained.
• There were systems in place to check all equipment had been serviced regularly, including the steriliser, fire extinguishers, oxygen cylinder and the X-ray equipment.
• The practice had effective systems in place to gain the comments and views of people who used the service.
• Patients were highly satisfied with the treatment they received and were complimentary about staff at the practice.
• Staff had received training appropriate to their roles and were supported in their continued professional development (CPD).
• We observed that staff showed a caring and attentive approach towards patients. All patients were recognised and greeted warmly on arrival at reception.
• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children.
• Staff were proud of the practice and their team. Staff felt well supported and were committed to providing a quality service to their patients.