The Compliance Hotseat: your questions, our expertise

Discover how Agilio Software’s compliance experts are here to help your practice tackle the challenges of 2025 with practical advice, innovative tools and hands-on support

For dental practices, staying compliant with regulations that always have the potential to evolve is no easy task. From health and safety to fire prevention measures and HR management, plus with CQC inspections and GDC requirements to consider, managing all aspects of compliance alongside patient care and clinical responsibilities can feel overwhelming. To help practices overcome these challenges, Agilio Software is proud to introduce ‘The Compliance Hotseat’ series for 2025.

This initiative will feature regular articles, webinars, and in-person discussions at events throughout the year, offering expert advice to address your compliance questions and provide practical solutions.

Led by three of Agilio’s compliance specialists – Fran Sorodoc, Alex O’Neill, and Rhys Jones – the series aims to simplify complex requirements and support practices in achieving compliance while fostering efficient and safe operations.

Compliance challenges

Running a dental practice already involves a delicate balance between clinical work and administrative duties. Add compliance to the mix, and many practices find themselves stretched thin. Key challenges include:

• Health and safety: staying updated on regulations to ensure the safety of staff and patients can be a time-consuming task
• Fire regulations: meeting legal obligations for fire prevention and safety often gets overshadowed by other priorities
• HR management: navigating employment laws, creating robust policies, and handling contracts require expertise that many practices understandably lack in-house
• CQC expectations: with inspections focusing more on risk management and patient outcomes, practices must maintain consistent standards to remain compliant
• GDC requirements: ensuring compliance with the GDC’s standards for patient care and professional conduct adds another layer of responsibility for dental teams.

In 2025, practices will, of course, need to remain vigilant in managing not just compliance but also how it integrates with overall operational efficiency and staff wellbeing. This is especially true as pressures from recruitment difficulties, cost management, and new technology adoption continue to mount.

The solution

For many practices, managing compliance effectively often involves combining the right tools with expert guidance. Solutions like iComply can help streamline workflows and provide clarity around meeting CQC standards, offering practical support to reduce the pressures associated with compliance.

For those needing more tailored assistance, services such as iManage offer the option of working with a dedicated compliance manager to address specific challenges, from audits to inspections. These kinds of support systems can help practice teams establish a culture of compliance, easing the administrative load and allowing more time to focus on patient care.

At the same time, accessing expert advice can empower practice managers to address gaps in knowledge or confidence. That’s why The Compliance Hotseat is such a valuable resource – it provides actionable insights, demystifies regulations, and helps practices create a compliance strategy that works in harmony with their operational and patient care goals.

Meet the experts

Fran Sorodoc, Agilio’s Head of Professional Services, has extensive experience in both medical and dental practices. Fran discovered her passion for compliance in 2016 while using iComply and joined Agilio as a consultant in 2019. She believes any practice manager can become compliance savvy with the right support and is known for achieving exceptional results. Fran’s philosophy centres on streamlined operations, strong leadership, and continuous improvement.

Next up is Alex O’Neill, Managing Director – Practice Services, an expert in healthcare governance, operational excellence, and organisational culture. He has guided countless practices in developing strategies to achieve compliance and operational efficiency. Alex also leads the evolution of tools like iComply and iManage, and is a trusted voice in the industry as a speaker and author. His practical, insightful advice has helped practices large and small succeed.

Meanwhile, Rhys Jones, Head of Compliance at Agilio, is a specialist in health and safety, with particular expertise in fire safety, electrical safety, and radiation. With extensive knowledge of compliance requirements, Rhys is committed to providing clear, practical advice to support dental teams in navigating complex regulations. His approach focuses on demystifying topics such as COSHH and disability access while addressing common misconceptions, ensuring practices can operate safely and confidently.

Get involved

The Compliance Hotseat series is your chance to get expert advice on the compliance issues that matter most to your practice. Whether it’s a specific challenge or a general query, Fran, Alex, and Rhys are here to help.

Look out for the first article in the February issue of The Probe, join our webinars, and meet the team at key exhibitions throughout the year. Have a question? Send it to compliance.hotseat@agiliosoftware.com for your chance to have it answered – we may tackle it in The Compliance Hotseat and even get in touch to discuss it further!