The Dental Centre

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

We found this practice was providing safe care in accordance with the relevant regulations and had taken into consideration appropriate guidance.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Learning culture is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Safe systems, pathways and transitions is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Safeguarding is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The judgement for Involving people to manage risks is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.

The provider described the processes they had in place to identify and manage risks. Staff felt confident that risks were well managed at the practice, and the reporting of risks was encouraged. Staff knew how to respond to a medical emergency and had completed training in emergency resuscitation and basic life support every year. Staff we spoke with told us that equipment and instruments were well maintained and readily available.

Emergency equipment and medicines were available and checked in accordance with national guidance. Staff could access these in a timely way. The premises were clean, well maintained and free from clutter. Hazardous substances were clearly labelled and stored safely. We saw satisfactory records of servicing and validation of equipment in line with manufacturer’s instructions. Fire exits were clear and well signposted, and fire safety equipment was serviced and well maintained.

The practice ensured equipment was safe to use and maintained and serviced according to manufacturers’ instructions. The practice ensured the facilities were maintained in accordance with regulations. A fire safety risk assessment was carried out in line with the legal requirements. The management of fire safety was mostly effective. Some improvements could be made by implementing 6 monthly servicing and changing the frequency of in-house testing of the fire detection equipment from monthly to weekly. Immediately after the assessment we were provided with evidence that quotes had been obtained for the servicing of smoke detectors and that weekly in-house testing of the smoke alarms had been implemented. The practice had arrangements to ensure the safety of the X-ray equipment, and the required radiation protection information was available. The practice had risk assessments to minimise the risk that could be caused from substances that are hazardous to health. The practice had implemented systems to assess, monitor and manage risks to patient and staff safety. This included sharps safety, sepsis awareness and lone working. A risk assessment had been completed for the hygienists who worked at the practice without chairside support. However, the risks for a staff member who worked alone when cleaning the practice had not been assessed. Immediately following our visit, we were provided with a lone working risk assessment for this staff member. The practice had systems for appropriate and safe handling of medicines. Antimicrobial prescribing audits were carried out.

At the time of our assessment, the patients felt there were enough staff working at the practice. They were able to book appointments when needed.

Staff we spoke with had the skills, knowledge and experience to carry out their roles. They told us that there were sufficient staffing levels. Staff stated they felt respected, supported and valued. They were proud to work in the practice. One staff member said “Great team members, nice patients, good equipment and materials. The team is like my second family and I look forward to coming to work.” Staff discussed their training needs during annual appraisals, 1 to 1 meetings, practice team meetings and ongoing informal discussions. They also discussed learning needs, general wellbeing and aims for future professional development. One staff member said,” the practice owner even suggests courses or roles that I might be interested in doing”. Another said, “all the dentists and also other dental professionals in the practice have been supporting me very well so far and help me to progress in my career and also my course.” Staff we spoke with demonstrated knowledge of safeguarding and were aware of how safeguarding information could be accessed. Staff knew their responsibilities for safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. Staff told us they had received a structured induction programme, which included safeguarding.

The practice had a recruitment policy and procedure to help them employ suitable staff, including for agency or locum staff. These reflected the relevant legislation. The practice ensured clinical staff were qualified, registered with the General Dental Council and had appropriate professional indemnity cover. Newly appointed staff had a structured induction, and clinical staff completed continuing professional development required for their registration with the General Dental Council. The practice had arrangements to ensure staff training was up-to-date and reviewed at the required intervals. We saw the practice had effective processes to support and develop staff with additional roles and responsibilities.

Patients told us that the practice looked clean, and equipment appeared to be in a good state of repair.

Staff told us how they ensured the premises and equipment were clean and well maintained. They demonstrated knowledge and awareness of infection prevention and control processes. Staff told us that single use items were not reprocessed.

The practice appeared clean and there was an effective schedule in place to ensure it was kept clean. Staff followed infection control principles, including the use of personal protective equipment. Hazardous waste was segregated and disposed of safely. We observed the decontamination of used dental instruments, which aligned with national guidance.

The practice had infection control procedures which mostly reflected published guidance, and the equipment used for decontaminating dental instruments was well maintained and serviced. On the day of the assessment, we saw that the process used to identify the decontamination expiry date for pouched dental instruments was inconsistent. Immediately after the assessment we were sent evidence that the practice had ensured that staff would record the date of expiry for decontaminated instruments going forward. Staff had appropriate training, and the practice completed infection prevention and control audits in line with current guidance. The practice had procedures to reduce the risk of Legionella, or other bacteria, developing in water systems, in line with a risk assessment. The practice had policies and procedures in place to ensure clinical waste was segregated and stored appropriately in line with guidance.

The judgement for Medicines optimisation is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Safe key question.