We carried out this announced inspection on 18 May 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.

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

SDA Dental Studio is based in the London borough of Tower Hamlets and provides private treatment to patients of all ages. Patients attending the practice are mostly of Romanian nationality.

There is level access for wheelchair users and people using pushchairs.

The dental team includes three dentists, three dental nurses, a receptionist, a trainee practice manager and 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 SDA Dental Clinic was the practice manager.

On the day of inspection we collected 19 CQC comment cards filled in by patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

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

The practice is open: Sunday to Thursday 9: am- 10: pm and Friday 9: am -2: pm.

Our key findings were:

• The practice was clean and well maintained.
• The practice had infection control procedures which reflected published guidance.
• 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.
• Staff knew how to deal with emergencies, though improvements were required to ensure all necessary medicines and life-saving equipment as per national guidance was available at all times. The provider took immediate action to rectify this.

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

Review availability of medicines and equipment to manage medical emergencies taking into account guidelines issued by the British National Formulary, the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team.

Review staff awareness of Gillick competency and ensure all staff are aware of their responsibilities.