Supervisory Body Checklists

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This page tells you about the process for dealing with requests for standard and urgent authorisations for a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard (DOLS).


Dealing with a request for a Standard Authorisation
Selection of assesssors
Urgent authorisation and request for an extension

• Decide whether the request is appropriate, if necessary seeking further information from the managing authority or discussing whether an alternative care package could be provided which does not require the person to be deprived of their liberty.

• Appoint assessors with appropriate skills, qualifications and experience to carry out assessments to determine whether the six qualifying requirements are met.

• If there is no-one to be consulted in relation to the assessments other than paid carers or professionals involved in the person’s care, instruct an Independent Mental capacity Advocate (IMCA) immediately to represent the person during the assessment process.

• Receive written copies of the assessments as they are completed.

• If any of the assessments is negative, call a halt to the assessment process and refuse the standard authorisation using Form 13 (see under 'Related External Links' below).

• Within 21 days of receiving the request (or within 7 days if an urgent authorisation is in place), decide whether to give or refuse the standard authorisation - complete Form 12 (see under 'Related External Links' below) to grant a standard authorisation or Form 13 to refuse it.

• When granting a standard authorisation: specify the period for which it will be valid; decide whether to attach any conditions; appoint someone to act as the relevant person’s representative.

• Send a copy of the authorisation (or refusal) to the managing authority, the relevant person, the relevant person’s representative and everyone consulted during the assessment process.

• Send copies of the assessment forms to the managing authority, the relevant person and the relevant person’s representative.

• Keep detailed records of all standard authorisations granted and refused.

• The reason for the proposed deprivation of liberty.

• Whether the potential assessor has relevant experience (in terms of client group, cultural background etc.) in relation to the person being assessed.

• Any specific communication or other needs of the person being assessed.

• The need to avoid any possible conflicts of interest that might call into question the objectivity of the assessment.

• The need to minimise the burden on the person being assessed, for example, by choosing assessors who are based near where the person is residing and who can carry out more than one assessment.

• Whether an equivalent assessment has been carried out within the last 12 months which can be relied on instead of obtaining a fresh assessment.

• Choose assessors who are available to carry out the assessments urgently within the period of the urgent authorisation.

• Keep track of the assessment process.

• Make sure there is good communication with the managing authority and forewarn it of any potential exceptional reasons which may delay the assessment process.

• Make a decision promptly about granting or refusing the standard authorisation.

• Consider whether the reasons why it has not been possible to deal with the standard authorisation request are ‘exceptional’.

• Decide promptly whether to grant an extension and the period of any extension granted.

• Notify the managing authority of the decision.

• Complete Form 3 (see under 'Related External Links' below) and send a copy to the managing authority.

• Keep detailed records of extensions to urgent authorisations and the reasons for granting them.