Court of Protection forms including the applications to make decisions on someone’s behalf; to become someone’s deputy; to authorise a deprivation of liberty; and applications relating to powers of attorney.

Brings together emergency guidance for health and social care staff in England and Wales who are caring for, or treating, a person who lacks the relevant mental capacity during the coronavirus outbreak. The guidance ensures that decision makers are clear about the steps they need to take during this period. It focuses on new scenarios and potential ‘deprivations of liberty’ created by the outbreak. During the outbreak, the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the safeguards provided by the deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) still apply. The MCA provides protection for people who lack or may lack the relevant mental capacity to make decisions about different aspects of their life. The DoLS are an important part of this act and provide further safeguards for those who need to be deprived of their liberty in order to receive care or treatment in a care home or hospital, but do not have the capacity to consent to those arrangements. [Published 9 April 2020. Last updated 27 April 2021]

Emergency guidance for health and social care staff in England and Wales who are caring for adults who lack the relevant mental capacity to consent to their care and treatment during the coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. This document provides additional guidance to supplement ‘The Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA) and deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic’, which was published in April 2020. It includes guidance on: testing someone who lacks the relevant mental capacity; providing life-saving treatment to someone who lacks the capacity to consent; hospitals and care homes; and using emergency public health powers when someone who lacks relevant capacity needs to be isolated because they have symptoms and are not following public health advice. [First published 29 May 2020; last updated 12 January 2021]

The government’s response to the Law Commission’s consultation on how the law should regulate deprivations of liberty (DoLS) for people who lack capacity to consent to their care and treatment arrangements. It sets out the government’s provisional view of each individual proposals, including the areas of authorising a DoL, the duration of authorisation, Independent Mental Capacity Advocates and appointment of appropriate persons, challenging authorisations and the role of the Courts, fit with the Mental Health Act and monitoring. The response agrees in principle that the current DoLs system should be replaced and mostly agrees with the Liberty Protection Safeguards model.

Assessment of the amendment, which introduced the liberty protection safeguards to replace the deprivation of liberty safeguards. the liberty protection safeguards (LPS) were introduced in the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019. LPS will provide the framework to determine whether a deprivation of liberty is necessary and proportionate for the care or treatment of an individual who lacks the mental capacity to consent to their arrangements, in England and Wales. They will replace the deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) system, which was found to be “bureaucratic” and “too complex” by a House of Lords Committee in 2014. This impact assessment is an updated assessment of the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019. It provides an assessment of DoLS at present and fully funded, as well as for LPS as set out in the act.

Information about the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) system, which will be replacing the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The LPS will provide protection for people aged 16 and above who are or who need to be deprived of their liberty in order to enable their care or treatment and lack the mental capacity to consent to their arrangements. The guidance outlines the key changes introduced by the LPS: three assessments will form the basis of the authorisation of Liberty Protection Safeguards; greater involvement for families; targeted approach; extending the scheme to and 16 and 17-year-olds; extending the scheme to domestic settings; and the roles of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), NHS trusts and local health boards as Responsible Bodies.
[Updated 3 August 2021]

This group is intended for Best Interest Assessors under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, students working towards qualifying and other professionals with practice interests in the Mental Capacity Act. This site is intended as an aid to develop practice knowledge by allowing discussion, peer support and the sharing of ideas and references, it is not a substitute for professional supervision or considered legal advice.

This framework aims to assist professionals, and specifically staff working within Gateshead, to understand their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act and to access guidance to assist them in fulfilling them. The document is separated into four main parts: policy – this section outlines the policy structures which underpin MCA practice in Gateshead, including a detailed glossary of terms, the legal context, exploration of the role of the CQC and a discussion of how clear MCA leadership can be structured within individual agencies; considerations for particular agencies – this section examines the impact of the MCA on specific agencies within Gateshead and considers some of the challenges presented; MCA practice and procedural guidance – this section considers specific elements and functions of the MCA, and offers practice and procedural guidance; and DoLS procedural guidance – this section sets out Gateshead’s procedure for the effective operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

The HEE e-LfH Mental Capacity Act e-learning programme (MCA) is made up of 11 e-learning sessions, which cover the following titles: Mental Capacity Act as part of human rights; assessing mental capacity; making decisions; best interests; restraint; deprivation of liberty; relationship between the Mental Capacity Act and the Mental Health Act; Mental Capacity Act and young people aged 16 or 17; research involving people who lack capacity; Mental Capacity Act and adult safeguarding; settling disputes and disagreements. Each e-learning session will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes to complete and is made up of knowledge, case scenarios, short interviews and self-assessment questions to test your knowledge. The resource can be accessed on smart phones, tablets and laptop/desktop devices.

A deprivation of liberty safeguards e-learning course. This session explores the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) to help understand what they are, their aim and their purpose.

Specialist software solutions for health and social care professionals responsible for DoLS.

This page brings together documents and links related to a range of adult safeguarding areas that may assist service users and professional to understand this area. Topics covered include: the Mental Capacity Act; safeguarding vulnerable adult concerns; and reasonable adjustments.