We carried out this announced inspection on 14 February 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 Care Quality Commission 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

Dental Practice on The Hill is in the London Borough of Enfield. The practice provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

The practice is located on the ground and first floor of the premises and there is step free access to the practice via a ramp. The practice is located close to public transport bus and train services. There is pay and display parking available close to the dental practice.

The dental team includes the two principal dentists who own the practice, one associate dentist, two dental hygienists and six dental nurses. The clinical team are supported by a practice manager and a receptionist.

The practice is owned by a partnership between the two principal dentists and as a condition of registration must have a person registered with the Care Quality Commission as the registered manager. Registered managers 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 registered manager at Dental Practice on The Hill was one of the principal dentists.

On the day of inspection we received feedback from 52 patients.

During the inspection we spoke with the principal dentists, the associate dentist, three dental nurses, one dental hygienist, the receptionist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open between 9am and 6pm on Mondays to Thursdays and between 9am and 4pm on Fridays.

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Our key findings were:

• The practice appeared clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies. Appropriate medicines and life-saving equipment were available.
• 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 practice was providing preventive care and supporting patients to ensure better oral health.
• 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 had arrangements to deal with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The practice had suitable information governance arrangements.

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We were able to speak to patients of the dental practice. They indicated that they had been treated with respect and dignity. They expressed satisfaction with the care and treatment provided. The practice has a policy for ensuring that all patients are treated with respect and dignity.

Patients made positive comments about staff and indicated that they had confidence in the dentists and other staff who attended to them. Detailed assessments and treatment plans had been prepared for patients. Treatment had been given with patients’ agreement and consent.

The premises were clean and well maintained. There were arrangements for infection control checks and daily cleaning tasks. Staff were knowledgeable regarding infection control and decontamination procedures for equipment and instruments used. There was documented evidence that equipment used had been maintained and inspected by specialist contractors.