Explainers
September 3, 2026
Sometimes, a loved one needs round-the-clock care in a hospital or care home to keep them safe, but they no longer have the capacity to consent to staying there.
The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) is a legal safety net designed to protect their human rights. It ensures that any restrictions placed on their freedom are absolutely necessary, fair, and solely in their best interest.
What Does a “Restriction” Look Like?
A person might be under DoLS if their care requires:Staff deciding where they can go and when.
Locked doors to prevent them from wandering into danger.Constant supervision and control over their daily routine.
Medication specifically used to calm behavior.
The Assessment ProcessBefore a DoLS can be authorized, professionals must prove it is the only way to keep the person safe.
The Request: The care home or hospital asks the local authority for a DoLS authorization.
The Assessments: Two independent professionals (usually a specially trained social worker and a doctor) will assess your loved one.
They will check if the person has the capacity to make their own decisions and if the proposed care is genuinely in their best interest.
The Decision: If approved, the DoLS is granted for a set time (never more than a year) and must be regularly reviewed.
Your Role in the Process
Your Right
What It Means for YouTo Be Consulted
You know your loved one best.
Assessors must ask you about their past wishes, values, and feelings to ensure the care plan matches who they are.
To Be a Representative
A family member or friend is usually appointed as the Relevant Person’s Representative (RPR).
Your job is to check on them regularly and speak up if the care isn’t working.
To Request a Review
If you believe the restrictions are too harsh or no longer needed, you have the legal right to ask the local authority to review the DoLS immediately.