The Care Quality Commission
  • Dentist
  • Dentist

Ravensdale Dental Practice

2 Ravensdale Avenue, North Finchley, London, N12 9HS (020) 8445 4579

Provided and run by:
Mr. Nicholas Unsworth

All Inspections

24 July 2017

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced inspection on 24 July 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

Ravensdale Dental Practice is located in the London borough of Barnet and provides private dental treatment to patients of all ages.

Practice staffing consists of the principal dentist, three hygienists, three dental nurses, one receptionist and practice manager

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.

The practice is open Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5.30pm and Fridays 8.30am to 1pm

The practice facilities include two treatment rooms, decontamination room, reception/waiting area and a staff room.

On the day of inspection we collected feedback from 27 patients. This information gave us a positive view of the practice.

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

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.

28 April 2014

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We found there were effective systems in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. During our previous inspection in June 2013 we found that the provider had not carried out audits of the decontamination processes as frequently as required. This was important as the practice did not have a separate decontamination room, identified by professional guidance as good practice. Neither did they have a detailed implementation plan as to how the provision of decontamination services would move towards best practice.

During this inspection we found that the provider had implemented a regular auditing system and had installed a new decontamination room at the practice. People told us that they found the environment to be clean, and that staff wore protective clothing. One person said 'in terms of cleanliness it's fine. Everything is very clean.' Another person said 'I am more than happy with the cleanliness.' We observed that the service was visibly clean. Staff were trained in infection control and demonstrated their procedures for decontaminating and sterilising dental instruments.

11 June 2013

During a routine inspection

People we spoke with were positive about the quality of care and treatment they received. One person we spoke with said it was 'a thoroughly professional service.' Arrangements, equipment and medication were in place to deal with foreseeable emergencies.

We saw that systems were in place to reduce the risk and spread of infection. The provider had a nominated lead for infection control and appropriate policies, procedures and training. However, we did not find the provider had carried out audits of the decontamination processes as frequently as required. This was particularly important given that this provider did not have a separate room for decontamination, identified by professional guidance as good practice. Neither did they have a detailed implementation plan on how the provision of decontamination services will move towards best practice.

The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people receive. People's views were regularly sought, complaints and accidents were rare and recorded and dealt with appropriately, and checks were carried out to test the quality of the decontamination equipment used. All three people we spoke with said they would recommend the practice to others.