Updated 25 March 2020
We undertook a focused inspection of Signature Smiles Dental Practice on 27 February 2020. This inspection was carried out to review in detail the actions taken by the registered provider to improve the quality of care and to confirm that the practice was now meeting legal requirements.
The inspection was led by a CQC inspector who was supported by a specialist dental adviser.
We undertook a comprehensive inspection of Signature Smiles Dental Practice on 7 August 2019 under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. We found the registered provider was not providing safe or well-led care and was in breach of regulations 12 and 17 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can read our report of that inspection by selecting the 'all reports' link for Signature Smiles Dental Practice on our website www.cqc.org.uk.
As part of this inspection we asked:
- Is it safe?
- Is it well-led?
Our findings were:
Are services safe?
We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 7 August 2019.
Are services well-led?
We found this practice was providing well-led care in accordance with the relevant regulations.
The provider had made improvements in relation to the regulatory breach we found at our inspection on 7 August 2019.
Background
Signature Smiles Dental Practice is in Gobowen, Shropshire and provides NHS treatment for adults and children. The practice is one of two within Shropshire registered under the same provider.
There is ramped access for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for people with disabilities, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes six dentists, four dental nurses including three trainee dental nurses and a practice manager. The practice has three treatment rooms and centralised decontamination facilities.
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.
During the inspection we spoke with one dentist, an area manager and the practice manager. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open: Monday to Friday: from 8.30am to 5.30pm.
Our key findings were:
- Emergency medicines and equipment were as described in the Resuscitation Council UK’s national guidance.
- Infection prevention and control audits had been completed on a six-monthly basis in line with national guidance.
- The infection control lead had completed additional training to support their role.
- The practice had a system for receiving alerts from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and Central Alerting System.
- The practice had a whistleblowing (speak up) policy and this was available to all staff.
- The practice had a system for recording accidents and significant events. This was being reviewed and updated at the time of this inspection.
- All staff had received a formal appraisal of their performance in the 12 months leading up to this inspection. Dentists had completed personal development plans in line with requirements from the General Dental Council.
- Radiography audits had been completed for dentists in the 2 months leading up to this inspection.
- Safeguarding protocols were in place to reduce risk and help keep patients safe.
- Information held at the practice relating to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health had been updated.
- Staff files demonstrated all clinical staff had received inoculations to protect them from the Hepatitis B virus, and their level of immunity was recorded within their personnel file.
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Implement an effective system for recording, investigating and reviewing incidents or significant events with a view to preventing further occurrences and ensuring that improvements are made as a result.