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

Background

Sunningvale Dental Practice is located in Biggin Hill, in south east Kent. The practice consists of three treatment rooms, a waiting room, decontamination area, reception area and patient toilet. One treatment room is situated on the ground floor. The practice is purpose built and has wheelchair access and parking is available on the road outside the surgery.

The practice provides NHS and private dental treatment to children and adults. The practice offers a range of dental treatments such as routine examinations, general dental treatments, oral hygiene care, and restorative treatments such as veneers, crowns, bridges.

The practice is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8.30am - 5.30pm, Wednesday 10am-7pm and Friday 9am-1pm The staff structure consists of a principal dentist, one associate dentist, a dental nurse, two receptionists and hygienist.

The principal dentist is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as an individual. 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.

The inspection took place over one day and was carried out by a CQC inspector and a dental specialist advisor.

We received 40 CQC comment cards completed by patients and spoke with three patients during our inspection visit. Patients we spoke with, and those who completed comment cards, were positive about the care they received from the practice. They were complimentary about the staff and the treatment they had received and told us they were able to access appointments easily. We were told the staff were friendly and professional at all times.

Our key findings were:

• Patients’ needs were assessed and care was planned in line with current guidance such as from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

• There were effective systems in place to reduce and minimise the risk and spread of infection.

• The practice had effective safeguarding processes in place and staff understood their responsibilities for safeguarding adults and children living in vulnerable circumstances.

• Equipment, such as the air compressor, autoclave (steriliser), fire extinguishers, and X-ray equipment had all been checked for effectiveness and had been regularly serviced.

• Patients indicated that they felt they were listened to and that they received good care from a helpful and caring practice team.

• The practice had implemented clear procedures for managing comments, concerns or complaints.

• The practice manager had a clear vision for the practice and staff told us they were well supported by the management team.

• Governance arrangements and audits were effective in improving the quality and safety of the services.

We spoke with a few people who had received treatment from the dentist or dental hygienist. People told us they had been given guidance during their appointment such as brushing techniques to improve their oral health. They told us they had been given options about their treatments and that any fees had been clearly explained. People said the staff were helpful and polite and they said they would recommend the surgery. They told us that staff wore appropriate personal protective equipment during treatments, and that they felt the surgery and environment was clean and hygienic.

We found that people were provided with enough information to allow them to make informed decisions about their treatments. People were involved in their treatments and their privacy and dignity were respected during their appointments. Treatments were carried out after an assessment of people’s needs, and in most cases their medical history information was checked to ensure that any treatments provided were safe. We observed in most cases staff followed the provider's decontamination procedures and overall, infection control practice prevented the risk of infection. Staff were appropriately supported through induction and training, and trainee staff received appropriate supervision. The provider kept accurate records relating to people and staff which were stored in a secure way and management records were in most cases accurate and fit for purpose.