Since April 2015 CQC recognised that Dentistry could be classed as low risk compared to other areas it covers and has introduced new fundamental standards and five key lines of enquiries. Essentially this means all dental practices have to provide evidence they are fully compliant at all times across all five key lines of enquiries which are:
Is this practice….
- Safe
- Effective
- Caring
- Responsive
- Well-led
All practices are expected to be able to evidence that their policies and procedures are living which means are fully incorporated into the practice and that all of the staff are fully aware and conversant.
Going forward, the inspections are to be very different, for example six weeks before an inspection takes place (and four weeks before the practice are aware that an inspection is to take place) CQC will start information gathering, this will be from sources such as:
GDC
NHS England
NHS Choices
Consumer websites – such as Yell.com
The inspections will take all day and the inspector who may be accompanied by a dentist who will interview all staff members both clinical and administrative and patients if they are prepared to be interviewed.
We are focussing on the Well-led key line of enquiry and are providing a series of one day seminars (CPD points available) where we cover:
- Leadership
- Management
- Business Development
- Marketing
- Financial forecasting
- Employment and HR
For more details on these seminars, please give us a call or take a look at our seminars page
