Care home briefing 96 the operation of the deprivation of liberty safeguards in england 2009-10
The Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) came into force on 1 April 2009. The Safeguards enable hospitals and care homes to obtain a power so that they can lawfully deprive service users of their liberty. This applies when service users lack capacity to consent. The safeguards aim to protect some of the most vulnerable people in our society.