LPS/DOLS video resources

Introduction to MCA/DOLS

At the beginning of April 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care announced that the Liberty Protection Safeguards (also known as LPS) will now not be introduced this side of a general election, which is anticipated to be in Autumn 2024.

In this session legal director Joanna Crichton considers the most important questions surrounding the current Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards scheme, the main issues the LPS was designed to resolve and the implications for care providers on the LPS not going ahead.

What is a deprivation of liberty?

In this short video Joanna Crichton defines what a deprivation of Liberty is, pushing the issue of consent and the limitations of freedom.  

How is a deprivation of liberty authorised under DOLS?

This session explains the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards scheme. Detailing the procedures, supervisory bodies and standard authorisations put in place when assessing for a deprivation of liberty.

What are the implications of LPS not going ahead?

In this session Joanna Crichton offers us the impact of LPS not going ahead, and the subsequent continuation of the current legal framework surrounding the authorisation of a deprivation of liberty, which has long been unfit for purpose.

What should health and social care organisations prioritise now?

Regardless of any reforms made to the current legal framework, this video stresses the fundamentals of the Mental Capacity Act as being at the forefront of deprivation of liberty cases. As well as how organisations should focus on revising their existing policies relating to the MCA to maximise compliance.

What is happening about deprivation of liberty in the community?

In light of the Liberty Protection Safeguards not going ahead, Joanna Crichton explains how the Court of Protection will continue to deal with authorisations of deprivation of liberty in domestic settings at scale. Whilst also offering recommendations to commissioners of care in the community.

How will any changes impact 16 and 17 year olds?

This video details the current Supreme Court judgement whereby parents cannot consent to a deprivation of liberty for a child once they have reached the age of 16, and how now that the LPS is on hold, court approval will remain required to authorise DOLS involving 16 and 17 year olds.

What is the impact of of LPS not going ahead for the independent health sector?

In this session Joanna Crichton discusses how independent hospitals, domiciliary care providers and those who are involved with the care of children and young people, will be affected without the changes proposed by LPS.