We carried out this announced inspection on 3 October 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 we were inspecting the practice. They did not provide any information that 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

Mint Dental Centre is in the London borough of Lambeth and provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages. Car parking spaces are available near the practice.

The dental team includes 11 dentists, seven dental nurses, three dental hygienists, two receptionists and a practice manager. The practice has five treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by an individual who is the principal dentist there. 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.

On the day of inspection we collected 23 CQC comment cards filled in by patients and spoke with three other patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, a dental nurse, the principal dentist and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open Monday to Thursday 8.00am to 5.30pm, Friday and Saturday 8.00am to 4.00pm and Sunday 9.00am – 2.00pm.

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 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.

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

Review the practice’s protocols for the use of rubber dam for root canal treatment taking into account guidelines issued by the British Endodontic Society.

Review the practice's recruitment policy and procedures to ensure accurate, complete and detailed records are maintained for all staff.

Review the practice's current audit protocols to ensure audits of key aspects of service delivery are undertaken at regular intervals and where applicable learning points are documented and shared with all relevant staff.

We were able to speak with one person on the day of the inspection. He was complimentary about the practice having been recommended by his daughter. He told us that the dentists were "fantastic" and were "very kind and patient". He also told us that the dentist and nurse wore gloves, masks and glasses whilst they worked and that he was always fully informed about his treatment and the charges he would have to pay. We found the reception area to be bright and welcoming, the surgeries to be well equipped and the staff to be well informed, caring and professional.