About Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
The Mental
Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (formerly known as
the Bournewood safeguards) were introduced into the Mental Capacity
Act (MCA) through the Mental Health Act 2007 (MHA). The aim of the
safeguards is to provide legal protection for those vulnerable
people who are deprived of their liberty otherwise than under the
Mental Health Act 1983, to prevent arbitrary decisions to deprive a
person of their liberty and to give rights to challenge deprivation
of liberty authorisations. The safeguards apply to people who lack
capacity to consent to care or treatment, and who are suffering
from a disorder of the mind. The Government expects that
implementation of the safeguards will reduce the number of people
deprived of their liberty in care homes and hospitals.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists
(RCPsych) has worked collaboratively with the Department of Health
to produce training materials for doctors as part of a DoLS Mental
Health Assessor Training Programme. Regulations agreed by
Parliament in 2008 have specified that Supervisory Bodies (in
relation to DoLS) must be satisfied that, to be mental health
assessors, doctors must have completed this DoLS mental health
assessor programme, made available by the RCPsych.
Becoming a DoLS Mental Health Assessor
The training is designed for
two groups of medical practitioners:
- Medical practitioners who have at least three years post
registration experience of the diagnosis or treatment of a mental
disorder from a variety of medical specialties and who are not MHA
Section 12 Approved. These medical practitioners will need to be
trained in both modules.
- MHA Section 12 Approved doctors (psychiatrists and
non-psychiatrists) or for those who have completed the Introductory
Training Course. These medical practitioners will only need to be
trained in module 2.
DoLS e-Learning Modules
The DoLS
e-Learning Modules are available free of charge to all NHS funded
doctors in England and Wales. The e-Learning Modules are delivered
by e-Learning for Healthcare (e-LfH) in partnership with the
RCPsych. The modules form part of the DoLS training provided by the
Department of Health (DH) and the RCPsych and are based on the same
content as the training courses mentioned above.
Licensing arrangements, terms and conditions
Attend training within your Trust/Organisation
Your Trust/Organisation
can obtain the Training Manuals from the RCPsych. There are two
training modules. The Manuals are designed for trainers who wish to
train medical practitioners in group face-to-face training
courses. The RCPsych has produced the DoLS training modules
and all related training materials in collaboration with the
Department of Health. In line with the DoLS Regulations (SI 2008
No.1858), the training is made available by the Royal College of
Psychiatrists. To obtain the manuals, please contact Catherine Ayres, Event
Manager.
|