The Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (formerly known as the Bournewood safeguards) were introduced into the Mental Capacity Act 2005 through the Mental Health Act 2007 (which received Royal Assent in July 2007).
Want to know more?
Visit the DOLS team Website to get information
For people in Residential Care, Hospitals, Families and Carers
For Professionals
On Who to Contact
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Team for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland
Deprivation of Liberty (DOLS) Team
Eastern Annex
County Hall
Glenfield
Leicester LE3 8RL
Telephone: 0116 305 7853
Fax: 0116 305 5555*
Email: dolsteam@leics.gov.uk
Website: www.leics.gov.uk/deprivation_of_liberty
* - Professionals should ensure that they advise the DOLs team before faxing official forms through.
The MCA DOL Safeguards apply to anyone:
-
aged 18 and over,
-
who lack the capacity to give informed consent to the arrangements made for their care and / or treatment and
-
the care they receive is so restrictive it might be considered to deprive them of their liberty and
-
are resident in hospitals or care homes registered under the Care Standards Act 2000, whether placed under public or private arrangements
The aim is to implement the safeguards in April 2009. The Safeguards are designed to protect the interests of an extremely vulnerable group of service users and to:
-
ensure people can be given the care they need in the least restrictive regimes
-
prevent arbitrary decisions that deprive vulnerable people of their liberty
-
provide safeguards for vulnerable people
-
provide them with rights of challenge against unlawful detention
To find out if we can help, please contact, or ask someone on your behalf, to contact us
Further background information about the Safeguards
