Best Interest Assessment Process for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Consultation

Overview

• The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) are for people who cannot make a decision about the way they are being treated or cared for in a hospital or care home, where other people are having to make this decision for them. Liberty means being free to do the things you want to do, when you want to do them. If you are stopped from doing the things you want all the time, this is called being deprived of your liberty. Sometimes people having treatment or care might be deprived of their liberty to keep them safe.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards are the way to give you the protection you need when you are being cared for or treated in ways that deprive you of your liberty. Everyone who has a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Authorisation must have a representative. If you or your representative disagree about you being deprived of your liberty, you can ask a special court called the Court of Protection to decide whether you should be deprived of your liberty or not.

This questionnaire is targeted at the person representative, family and anyone who has been involved in the DoLS Best Interest Assessment (BIA) process.