MCA DoLS Event!

9th March – 13th March 2015

On Tuesday, I attended a great event which explained the MCA (Mental Capacity Act) DoLS (Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards) background and policy. The Mental Capacity Act came into play in 2005 and there was been a recent introduction of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, which aims to protect vulnerable people's freedom. The event was held by our CCG, along with our neighbouring CCGs; South Cheshire and Vale Royal. There were several speakers who presented their views on MCA DoLS and how it affected different organisations. Speakers included; head of adult safeguarding from Southern Derbyshire, a barrister who provided the legal context of the policy, the MCA DoLS policy lead from the Department of Health and representatives from Cheshire police.

The MCA DoLS enable vulnerable people, who lack the capacity to make informed decisions to be protected of their liberty. If a person is identified as having a lack of capacity to make decisions, a DoLS application can be sort.
The event allowed me to gain more of an insight into the legal context of the policy and understand what affect it can have from a police perspective. Something which was apparent in all of the speakers’ presentations was their passion towards the policy and ensuring people’s freedom is protected in the correct manner. A number of the speakers made the valid point of ensuring that each MCA DoLS situation is different and must ensure that the person’s wellbeing and best interests are at the heart of everything. A decision made on behalf of a person who lacks capacity, must be done in that person's best interests.

The event was a great success!