Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

Introduced as part of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) aim to make sure that people in registered care homes and hospitals are looked after in a way that does not inappropriately restrict their freedom. DoLS should ensure someone is only deprived of their liberty in a safe and correct way, and that this is only done in their best interests and when there is no other way to look after them. There is a separate process for a person who is deprived of their liberty in a domestic setting.