Care glossary · Rights and legal
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS): what it means
Legal safeguards for people in care homes or hospitals who lack capacity and are under continuous supervision and not free to leave.
The care home must apply to the council for authorisation. The person has a representative and can challenge the authorisation. A planned replacement (Liberty Protection Safeguards) has been delayed.
Terms often used alongside it
- Mental Capacity Act 2005: The law on making decisions for people who cannot make a particular decision themselves.
Free download
A 40-point checklist for comparing care homes
Covers CQC checks, staff, daily routine, rooms, fees and contracts, with columns for three homes.
More in Rights and legal
Care Act 2014 · Carer's assessment · Care plan · Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) · Deputyship (Court of Protection) · Mental Capacity Act 2005 · Advance decision and advance statement · Safeguarding
Register information from CQC as at Oct 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0 applies. We do not deliver care ourselves.