We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection on 18 October 2018 to ask the service the following key questions; Are services safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Our findings were:

Are services safe?

We found that this service was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services effective?

We found that this service was providing effective care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services caring?

We found that this service was providing caring services in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services responsive?

We found that this service was providing responsive care in accordance with the relevant regulations

Are services well-led?

We found that this service was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the service was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

The Cavendish Clinic is a private clinic that specialises in aesthetic treatments and minor surgery.

This service is registered with CQC under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 in respect of some, but not all, of the services it provides. There are some exemptions from regulation by CQC which relate to particular types of regulated activities and services and these are set out in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. The Cavendish Clinic provides a range of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic interventions, for example the aesthetic cosmetic treatments which are not within CQC scope of registration. Therefore, we were only able to inspect the treatment for minor surgery but not the aesthetic cosmetic services.

Ms Lisa Littlehales is the registered manager. 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 service is run.

We received feedback from four people about the service, including comment cards, all of which were very positive about the service and indicated that clients were treated with kindness and respect. Staff were described as helpful, caring, thorough and professional.

It should be noted that the service had been closed for 12 weeks due to flood damage and was not fully operational at the time of inspection.

Our key findings were:

• The facilities were appropriate to meet people’s needs.
• Medicines were used safely and appropriately.
• There was an annual audit of patient records to support safe prescribing.
• Staff were caring, supportive, and treated patients with dignity and respect.
• The manager encouraged an open and honest culture, and staff we spoke with were aware of the vision for the service.
• There was a comprehensive set of policies and procedures governing all activities.
• There was evidence of quality improvement.
• The provider was aware of their responsibility to respect people’s diversity and human rights.
• Patients were able to access care and treatment from the service within an appropriate timescale for their needs.
• There was a complaints procedure in place and information on how to complain was readily available.

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

• Establish cold chain policy and procedures.

Professor Steve Field CBE FRCP FFPH FRCGP

Chief Inspector of General Practice