Social services Comply with the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

Help with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

If a person 16 or over lacks the mental capacity to make decisions, or act for themselves, professionals may need to make decisions on their behalf. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 provides a legal framework to ensure these decisions are in a person’s best interests and are not overly restrictive or controlling.

Tools and guidance are available to assist professionals to make these decisions, balancing the person’s right to make their own decisions with the need to protect them from harm.

Read more about the Act and access the tools and guidance.

Help complying with Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

Depriving someone 18 or over of their liberty is sometimes the only way to keep people safe and healthy. However, it should be avoided wherever possible, and must be done lawfully. Tools and guidance are available to assist care homes, care homes with nursing, independent and acute hospitals to ensure they comply with these legal requirements.

Read more about the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and access the tools and guidance.

Deprivation of Liberty can also occur in a domestic setting. This can include Supported Housing schemes, Shared Lives services and Post-18 residential colleges.

Read the guidance about how to deal with deprivation of liberty in a domestic setting.

If you would like to speak to someone about the Mental Capacity Act or Deprivation of Liberty, you can email us at dolssafeguarding@manchester.gov.uk

Free Training

Face-to-face training sessions are available free of charge to statutory agencies and to the voluntary sector.  To be eligible, staff have to be working in Manchester .

E-learning is also available at a reduced cost to partner agencies.

For more information about training please contact Emma Fowler or Louise Tanner at: safeguardingadultstraining@manchester.gov.uk 

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