We carried out this announced inspection on 29 June 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. They did not provide any information of concern.

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

Henfield Dental Practice is located in Henfield. It provides NHS and private treatment to patients of all ages.

The practice is located on three floors. There are three treatment rooms on the ground floor and three treatment rooms on the first floor. There is a patient waiting area, a separate decontamination room and a wheelchair accessible toilet. Free parking is available on site. There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs.

The dental team includes eight dentists, three dental hygienists, five qualified dental nurses, three trainee dental nurses, a decontamination assistant, two receptionists, a treatment coordinator and a practice manager.

The practice is owned by a partnership and is registered with the Care Quality Commission as part of IDH Dental organisation. As a condition of registration the practice must have a person registered with the 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 Henfield Dental Practice was the practice manager.

On the day of inspection we collected 12 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, two dental nurses, the treatment coordinator, the practice manager and one receptionist and the area manager for the organisation. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday from 9am to 6pm, Tuesday from 8am to 7pm, Wednesday and Thursday from 8am to 6pm, Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturdays from 9am to 4.30pm.

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 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.