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Dental Infection Control Audit and IPC Assessment
Infection prevention and control is one of the first things the CQC looks at, and one of the easiest places for small gaps to build up. We give your practice a fresh, independent look and help you put right what we find.
What Is a Dental Infection Control Audit?
A dental infection control audit is a structured check of how a practice prevents the spread of infection, from decontamination and sterilisation to surface cleaning, waste handling and staff practice. In England, practices are expected to follow HTM 01-05 guidance on decontamination in primary care dental practices. Foxstern Dental Growth Partners carries out independent IPC assessments, explains what we find in plain terms and helps you fix any gaps.
Self-audits have their place, but it is hard to spot problems in a room you work in every day. Habits drift. A step gets skipped when the diary is busy. Records fall behind.
Siobhán Allwood-Oke worked as a dental nurse before moving into management, so she knows how decontamination works on a real clinical day. Our assessments are practical and respectful of your team, and they focus on what actually reduces risk.
What Our IPC Assessment and Audit Includes
Decontamination Review
We look at your decontamination room, workflow and processes against HTM 01-05, from cleaning through to sterilisation and storage.
Surgery Walkthrough
We check surgeries for cleanliness, clutter, zoning and how surfaces and equipment are managed between patients.
Records and Validation
We review your equipment testing, validation and maintenance records so you can show they are complete and current.
Waste Management
We check how clinical and other waste is segregated, stored and documented, including your contracts and consignment records.
Team Practice
We observe and talk to staff about hand hygiene, PPE and decontamination steps, so we see how things work in reality.
Clear Action Plan
You get a written summary of findings, with the most important fixes listed first and practical guidance on each one.
Want an Independent View of Your IPC?
Book a free growth audit and we will talk through your infection control position. There is no obligation and you leave with useful findings either way.
Book your free growth auditWho Is an IPC Assessment For?
An IPC assessment suits dental practices in England that want an independent check of their infection prevention and control, ahead of a CQC inspection or as part of good governance. It is useful for practices with a new decontamination lead, practices that have changed their layout or equipment, and owners who want reassurance that their own audits reflect what really happens.
Pair your IPC review with CQC inspection preparation or keep on top of it with ongoing compliance support. Or see all our compliance and CQC support.
Not Sure Where to Start?
How Does an IPC Assessment Work?
We plan the visit around your diary so patient care carries on as normal.
- Pre-visit chat. We learn about your practice layout, your decontamination set-up and any concerns you already have.
- On-site assessment. We review your processes, surgeries, records and team practice against HTM 01-05.
- Written findings. You receive a clear summary of what is working, what needs attention and what to fix first.
- Follow-up support. We help you put the changes in place and can check back to make sure they have stuck.