The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) are an amendment to the Mental Capacity Act 2005. They apply in England and Wales only.

The safeguards provide a legal framework for local authorities, in certain circumstances, to authorise a person to be deprived of their liberty. Where the legal criteria are met, we will work to make sure that the appropriate safeguards are put in place to protect the person’s rights.

Apply for DoLS authorisation

Care homes and hospitals can use the following forms available on GOV.UK to apply for DoLS authorisation:

• standard and urgent authorisation request form
• further authorisation request form

Please submit completed forms to:

• dols@bracknell-forest.gov.uk

For help in completing these forms, please see the DoLS guidance.

The DoLS team can be contacted by:

• email: dols@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
• phone: 01344 351939

Changes to DoLS

In July 2018, the government published a Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill which will see DoLS replaced by the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS). This passed into law in May 2019.

Under LPS, there will be a streamlined process to authorise deprivations of liberty. The target date for implementation is spring 2022.

More information

The following information provides more detail about the procedures, code of practice and provides a glossary of terms used:

• DoLS procedure
• DoLS glossary
• DoLS Code of Practice
• Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) website
• Mental Capacity Act 2005