Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

This course is aimed at everyone working in health and social care that makes decisions for people who may lack capacity and who require  knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and, specifically, the issue of deprivation of liberty safeguards (often shortened to DOLS).

It provides an introduction to DOLS, why they are used, and the process to follow in order to ensure best practice. On completion of this course, learners will be better equipped to assess whether there is a potential Deprivation of Liberty and, if so, whether it is in the person’s best interests.

The content is suitable for qualified and unqualified staff across health and social care disciplines e.g. care assistants, ward staff, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and social workers.

On completion of this Virtual College course learners will:

• Understand key principles of legislation which affects people who may be subject to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the Mental Health Act
• Be able to outline the key elements of the DOLS safeguards
• Be aware of the process for challenging decisions made in relation to DOLS

Lesson Plan

Areas covered include:

• Welcome and Learning Objectives
• Introduction: DOLS and the Mental Capacity Act
• The Deprivation of Liberty assessment process

Accreditation

The content of this Virtual College course has been independently certified as conforming to universally accepted Continuous Professional Development (CPD) guidelines

Certification

On completion of this course you will be able to download a Virtual College certificate.

Duration

Approximately 1 - 2 hours. The length of time taken depends entirely on how quickly you can study and absorb the material. You can proceed as quickly or slowly as you like, and there is no limit on how long you can take to do the course.

Target Audience

This course is aimed at those working within health and social care including professional care and support workers and practitioners.

Entry Requirements

There are no specific entry requirements for this course.