Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)

Course Overview

The Deprivation of Liberty Act protects the most vulnerable individuals in hospitals and care homes. It plays an important role in preventing the unlawful deprivation of liberty occurring. The MCA DoLS (The Mental Capacity Act: Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards) framework offers safeguards for the people who most need it and principles of conduct for anyone working with vulnerable people. If you are in a care profession, it is crucial that you understand them.

Target Audience

This course is for all people who work with vulnerable adults, for example in hospitals and care homes; and for people in social care who have responsibility for implementing the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. This course is suitable for learners who are new to the subject and also those who wish to refresh their knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act.

Learning Objectives

Once you’ve completed this course, you’ll have a good working knowledge of:

• What the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards are and who they apply to
• The background to and the law regarding the safeguards
• What deprivation of liberty is and when and how a person can be deprived of their liberty
• The difference between restraint and deprivation of liberty
• Situations that can lead to deprivation of liberty and strategies to help prevent it
• The process of identifying risk and requesting both ‘standard’ and ‘urgent’ authorisation
• The requirement to keep good records
• The six assessments
• The role of an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate
• What happens when the assessments are completed and the requirements are not met/met
• The relevant person’s representative and their role
• Authorisation and review
• Applications to the Court of Protection
• The role of the Care Quality Commission
• Unauthorised deprivation of liberty
• The Mental Capacity Act made simple