We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 12 February 2016 to ask the practice the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

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.

St Albans Orthodontic Centre is an orthodontic referral centre providing NHS and private orthodontic care and treatment. The practice is situated in a converted domestic property, all on the ground floor. It consists of three treatment areas (only one of which is in use), a separate decontamination room for cleaning, sterilising and packing dental instruments and a room which houses the panoramic dental X-ray machine.

The staff at the practice consist of a principal dentist with a special interest in orthodontics (who is also the registered manager), a specialist orthodontist, a dental receptionist and a dental nurse.

A registered manager is a person who is registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the practice is run.

Our key findings were:

• There were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. We found the treatment rooms and equipment were visibly clean.

• There were systems in place to check equipment had been serviced regularly, including the air compressor, autoclave, fire extinguishers, oxygen cylinder and the X-ray equipment.

• We found the dentists regularly assessed each patient’s gum health and took X-rays at appropriate intervals.

• The practice ensured staff maintained the necessary skills and competence to support the needs of patients.

• The practice kept up to date with current guidelines when considering the care and treatment needs of patients.

• Staff demonstrated knowledge of the practice whistleblowing policy and were confident they would raise a concern about another staff member’s performance if it was necessary.

• During our visit we observed staff were positive, friendly, supportive and put patients at their ease.

• We received feedback from 21 patients all of which was positive. Common themes were patients felt they received excellent service from kind and caring staff in a welcoming environment.

• There was an effective system in place to act on feedback received from patients and staff.

• There were systems in place to assess, monitor and improve the quality of service provided.

There were areas where the provider could make improvements and should:

• Review availability of equipment to manage medical emergencies giving due regard to guidelines issued by the Resuscitation Council (UK), and the General Dental Council (GDC) standards for the dental team.

During our visit to the St Albans Orthodontic Centre, on 19 January 2012, people told us that they were provided with a friendly, professional service.