Abstract
The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) for patients in hospitals and care homes have now had their first full two-year review. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) (2012) found variations in staff training, and the Mental Health Alliance (2010) said care home staff in particular needed more. DOLS inhabit a grey area between the mental health and mental capacity legislation, and the Alliance wonders why there aren't more referrals to independent advocates. As there is no legal definition of DOL, lawyers aren't necessarily better placed than HCAs to decide. Another wrinkle is that the supervisory body authorising DOLS is often the same authority that arranged placement.
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