Further support

If a DoLS authorisation is given for a person in hospital who is discharged before the DoLS ends

The DoLS should be reviewed and terminated. The outcome of the review should be recorded as 6 = change in client circumstances. The actual end date should be recorded as the discharge date. If a DoLS is still considered necessary, then the care home or hospital the individual is moving to should apply for a new authorisation. The DoLS is only authorised for the specified hospital or care home and does not move with the individual.

Including authorisations for deprivations of liberty for people living in their own home or in supported living

Any authorisations for deprivation of liberty for people in their own home or supported living should not be recorded in this data collection. The DoLS legislation only covers individuals who are in hospitals or care homes. Where a deprivation of liberty is required in a person’s own home or in supported living, an application is needed to the Court of Protection for authorisation. The Ministry of Justice collect information relating to this type of authorisation for deprivation of liberty, so whilst we request that they are not included in the figures you report to us, please do keep a separate record of these authorisations for deprivation of liberty as you may be required to report them to the Ministry of Justice in future.

DoLS that was not granted and did not have a Best Interests Assessment

Do not enter anything in the field for ‘DoLS not granted but BI advises DoLS occurring’? You should leave it blank in this case.

DoLS authorisations for the same person running straight after one another

Each DoLS should be recorded separately. Enter the new DoLS on a new line in the return using the same person reference.

Date all assessments completed, if you have not completed any of the assessments 

If you haven't completed any of the assessments on the data template under date all assessments competed leave the field blank.

Entering some dates after the end of the reporting period

The data template allows this so you can continue working with the spreadsheet, as many councils use it to record DoLS activity for local purposes, not just for reporting to the NHS England. The analysis will only be based on DoLS falling within the reporting period (1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025).

The individual dies after their assessments have been completed but the application has not been formally approved or the authorisation hasn’t yet started

In this situation, the circumstances of the person have changed and thus the assessments will not be up to date when 'completing' the application. The application will need to be revisited and will no longer be needed. These applications should be classed as not granted. The suggested path is to complete the ADASS not granted form under the not assessed box, clearly stating why the DoLS is no longer needed.

CQC Location codes for the DoLS data return

If you download the CQC Care Directory to obtain CQC Location codes for the DoLS data return you may notice that some of the codes differ to the ones used in last year's return or have changed from the start of the year. We are aware that CQC codes for an establishment may change from the time of the application being processed to the time of recording the application in the DoLS data return. In these instances, please record the CQC code that was active at the time of the application.

We have an authorisation where the CQC location is in Wales. How should we record the CQC location code

We recommend you email the Care Inspectorate Wales [email protected] if you are unable to access a code. They have their own website Care Inspectorate Wales. However it has come to our attention that  the codes are are no longer available from their website. If you can not do this please record the locations postcode in the CQC location code column (Welsh locations only).

DoLS applications received before 1 April 2023

If any DoLS applications were received prior to 1 April 2023 and are still active (i.e. the authorisation hasn’t finished or the application has not been signed off yet) they should be included in the 2023-24 data collection. Given the increase in the number of DoLS applications, it is possible that there are applications that were received in earlier years that may not have had any assessments completed by the end of the 2023-24 reporting year or may not have had any changes in status throughout the 2023-24 reporting year.

We consider any application to be active from the date it is received until the date it is either formally withdrawn, not granted, or the granted authorisation comes to an end. You can also refer the flowchart provided. 

Applications that are no longer needed because the individual concerned has died or moved location

Due to the backlog many local authorities have experienced in processing their applications in recent years, it may be the case that by the time a standard application can be processed it is no longer actually needed, for example where an individual’s circumstances have changed during that time. These applications should be classed as Not Granted, selecting a Reason Not Granted of 2 where there has been a change in circumstances or 3 where the person has died.

DoLS not granted and which did not have a Best Interests Assessment

For DoLS not granted which did not have a Best Interests Assessment leave this field blank.

Entering dates after the end of the reporting period into the data template 

The data template allows you to continue working with the spreadsheet, as many councils use it to record DoLS activity for local purposes, not just for reporting to the NHS Digital. The analysis will only be based on DoLS falling within the reporting period (1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024).

Difference in location codes within the CQC Directory 

We are aware that CQC codes for an establishment may change from the time of the application being processed to the time of recording the application in the DoLS data return. In these instances, please record the CQC code that was active at the time of the application.