We carried out this announced inspection on 12 July 2018 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

Newick Dental Practice is in Moulsecoomb, East Sussex and provides NHS and private treatment to adults and children.

There is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Ample on-street car parking is available.

The dental team includes two principal dentists, two associate dentists, one visiting sedationist, one dental hygienist, three dental nurses, one trainee dental nurse, one receptionist, one administration supervisor and the practice manager. The practice has two treatment rooms.

The practice is owned by a company 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 Newick Dental Practice was the practice manager.

On the day of the inspection, we collected 10 CQC comment cards filled in by patients.

During the inspection we spoke with one of the principal dentists, one associate dentist, the visiting sedationist, two dental nurses, the trainee dental nurse, 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:

• Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm

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 staff 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 and a culture of continuous improvement.
• 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 staff dealt with complaints positively and efficiently.
• The practice staff had suitable information governance arrangements.

The purpose of this report was to add a single additional outcome to the report following our compliance inspection of this service on 28 September 2012,

We spoke with the Practice Manager and looked at documentation in respect of the quality monitoring systems operated at this practice.,

We spoke with people who attended the practice who told us that they were very satisfied with the service provided. They said that they found the dentists and staff to be friendly and helpful and they were treated with respect and their privacy was maintained.

This was also evident from direct observation of effective interaction and of individuals being supported in a professional, sensitive and respectful manner.

People told us that they were given sufficient information about their treatment options available and the relevant fees. They also said that they were encouraged to ask any questions or raise any issues or concerns that they might have.

Among the comments received were:

“The dentist has spent time with me explaining everything about the treatment that I need. He’s very good, he put me at my ease and I’m much happier now”.

“Since I have been coming here I have found everyone to be helpful, friendly and reassuring. So I’ve got no complaints”.