We carried out this announced inspection on 11 December 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

Square Mile Dental Clinic is in the City of London and provides private treatment to patients of all ages.

The practice is set out over two levels and there is level access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. The practice facilities include four surgeries, two decontamination rooms, staff rooms/ meeting room, patient waiting area and reception area.

The dental team includes three dentists, three dental nurses (including a head nurse who also carried out some practice management duties), an office manager, receptionist and a dental hygienist.

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 27 CQC comment cards filled in by patient. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

During the inspection we spoke with two dentists, two dental nurses, the receptionist and the office manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.

The practice is open: Monday to Fridays from 9.00am to 5.30pm.

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.

As part of this inspection we spoke with three patients who attended the clinic on the day of our inspection. Each person was satisfied with the quality of treatment provided by the surgery. One person described the clinic as “excellent”. Another person commented, “I am very happy and they have good ethics here. They are so good that I am considering a long term treatment here.”

People experienced care, treatment and support that met their needs and protected their rights. We received positive feedback about the quality of care offered by the clinic. Patients told us that they were provided with a very high quality of care, which was consistent and fully met their needs. One person said, “I couldn’t wish for a better service.”

People were protected from the risk of infection because appropriate guidance had been followed. People were cared for in a clean, hygienic environment.

People were cared for by staff who were supported to deliver care

and treatment safely and to an appropriate standard.

The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people receive.