We carried out this announced inspection on 1 August 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.

We told the NHS England area team and Healthwatch that we were inspecting the practice. NHS England provided information which we took into account.

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

Inspire Dental Walthamstow is located in Walthamstow in the London Borough of Waltham Forest and provides predominantly NHS and some private dental treatment to patients of all ages.

The practice is located on the ground floor of a modified property and there is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. The practice is conveniently located for local bus routes to Blackhorse Road and Walthamstow Central underground and overground train stations. There is limited parking at the practice and this is reserved for patients who require assistance.

The dental team includes three dentists, two dental nurses, three trainee dental nurses, one dental hygienist, one receptionist and a practice manager. The practice has three treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who does not work at the practice. They have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the practice is run. In addition a registered manager was in post at the practice. 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 Inspire Dental Walthamstow was the practice manager.

On the day of inspection we collected 38 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with four other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, one dental nurse, one trainee dental nurse the dental hygienist, one receptionist, the practice manager and the two operational level managers. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open between 9am and 5.30pm on Mondays to Fridays.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was 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 and minimise 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.