Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) in Care Settings
Recognise when care may deprive someone of their liberty under the Supreme Court's 2026 test, and play your part in protecting their rights.
About this course
This course explains the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards for care workers in England, updated for the Supreme Court's ruling of June 2026, which replaced the Cheshire West "acid test" with a judgement across several factors, including whether the person objects and whether they give valid consent through their wishes and feelings. It covers the right to liberty and where DoLS sits in the Mental Capacity Act, how to recognise a possible deprivation of liberty, how urgent and standard authorisations work, the person's rights and the roles of representatives, advocates and the Court of Protection, and your part in daily care, including supported living, home care and young people. Five modules, eighteen lessons, around two hours, finishing with an assessment and a SupportiveBridge certificate.
What you'll learn
- By the end of this module, you will be able to explain the right to liberty, why the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards exist, how they fit into the Mental Capacity Act, and what changed in the law in 2026.
- By the end of this module, you will be able to recognise when care arrangements may amount to a deprivation of liberty under the test the Supreme Court set in 2026, including the part played by objection and valid consent, and know why any doubt should go to your manager.
- By the end of this module, you will be able to describe how urgent and standard authorisations are requested, assessed, granted, reviewed and ended in care homes and hospitals, and what each stage means for your daily work.
- By the end of this module, you will be able to explain the rights of a person subject to DoLS, and how the relevant person's representative, independent advocates and the Court of Protection protect those rights.
- By the end of this module, you will be able to apply least restrictive practice, accurate recording and prompt reporting in your daily work, in care homes and in community settings such as supported living and home care.