We carried out this announced inspection on 22 January 2019 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

Clock House Dental is a well-established practice that offers mostly NHS treatment to both children and adults. In addition to general dentistry, it offers a range of procedures including dental implants, teeth whitening and facial aesthetics. The practice is one of eight that are part of the Antwerp House Group of dental practices in the Cambridge area.

The dental team includes four dentists, four dental nurses, two hygienists and a practice manager. There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including two for blue badge holders, are available.

The practice opens from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday. The practice is open every Saturday for hygiene services and one Saturday a month for dental services

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist of the Antwerp House Group. He has 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 46 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with two other patients. We spoke with two dentists, three dental nurses, the business operations manager and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies, and appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• The practice had suitable safeguarding processes and staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children.
• Patients’ care and treatment was provided in line with current guidelines.
• The practice provided good preventive care and supported patients to ensure better oral health.
• Staff treated patients with dignity and respect and took care to protect their privacy and personal information.
• The practice took complaints and concerns seriously and responded to them appropriately to improve the quality of care.
• There was a clear leadership structure and staff felt supported by management. The practice proactively sought feedback from staff and patients, which it acted upon.

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

• Review the practice’s sharps procedures and ensure the practice is in compliance with the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.