Scope

The process is considered to start from the initial application to the Supervisory Body. The end of the case would be the end date of the DoLS authorisation where it was granted, or the date that the Supervisory Body signed off the application as Not Granted.

The collection is interested in all DoLS cases which have been active at any point between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024. This includes all new applications submitted between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, all those applications that were started in a previous reporting period but did not get signed off until after 1 April 2023, and all those applications that may relate to a previous reporting period but where the DoLS authorisation was in place as of 1 April 2023. 

Any applications received after 31 March 2024, or any activity on active applications after 31 March 2024 should not be included in this collection. NHS England will collect these data in the 2024-25 data return.

Each row of data should refer to a single application with the Person Reference repeated for further DoLS applications for the same person. The Person Reference recorded should be consistent for individuals across reporting periods as well as within reporting periods.

Where a review is discussed it is taken to mean the formal process that looks at whether the authorisation is still needed. This can take place at any time after the authorisation has been granted.

The collection will open on 3 April 2024.

The mandated submission deadline is 15 May 2024. It is expected that complete and checked submissions will be made by this date. Any local authority who fails to submit a complete mandated submission will be named within the data quality section of the associated official statistics publication. We will also be unable to provide additional support to improve the quality and completeness of the submission.

The submission window will then re-open to allow re-submissions, should these be required. The final date on which submissions can be accepted is 12 June 2024; once the final submission window has closed there will be no further opportunities to resubmit.