Updated 4 December 2023
We undertook a follow up focused inspection of South Cliff Dental Group – Dover on 1 November 2023. 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 2 CQC inspectors who were supported by a specialist dental adviser.
We undertook a comprehensive inspection of South Cliff Dental Group – Dover on 22 November 2022 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 Safe care and treatment and 17 Good governance of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. A follow up inspection was carried out on 12 April 2023 where ongoing compliance with the regulations 12 Safe care and treatment and 17 Good governance were identified.
You can read our report of those inspections by selecting the 'all reports' link for South Cliff Dental Group – Dover 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 breaches we found at our inspection on 12 April 2023.
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 breaches we found at our inspection on 12 April 2023.
Background
The provider has 28 practices and this report is about South Cliff Dental Group – Dover.
South Cliff Dental Group – Dover provides NHS and private dental care and treatment for adults and children.
There is level access to the practice for people who use wheelchairs and those with pushchairs. Car parking spaces, including dedicated parking for disabled people, are available near the practice.
The dental team includes 4 dentists, 5 trainee dental nurses, 4 dental therapists, 4 receptionists and a practice manager. The team are supported by staff at head office with HR and compliance. The practice has 4 treatment rooms.
During the inspection we spoke with 1 dentist, 2 trainee dental nurses, 2 dental therapists, 1 receptionist, the practice manager, the compliance manager and the clinical director. We looked at practice policies and procedures and other records about how the service is managed.
The practice is open:
Monday to Saturday from 8:30am to 5:30pm
Sunday from 10:00am to 4:30pm
There were areas where the provider could make improvements. They should:
- Improve the practice's systems and processes for managing the risks associated with Legionella, taking into account the guidelines issued by the Department of Health in the Health Technical Memorandum 01-05: Decontamination in primary care dental practices, and having regard to The Health and Social Care Act 2008: ‘Code of Practice about the prevention and control of infections and related guidance.’ In particular, ensuring appropriate action is taken when the monthly hot water checks do not reach the desired temperature.
- Improve the practice's systems for ensuring all clinical staff have adequate immunity for vaccine preventable infectious diseases.