• Skip to content
  • Skip to navigation
Logo: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Your Account
  • Menu
Close menu
Close
  • About the Council
  • Business and Economy
  • Children and Families
  • Community and Living
  • Council Tax and Benefits
  • Education and Learning
  • Environment and Waste
  • Health and Social Care
  • Housing
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Leisure and Culture
  • Planning and Development
  • Transport and Streets
  • See all news
  • See all events
  1. Home
  2. Health and social care
  3. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)

In this section

  1. Basic Introduction
  2. Guidance for managing authorities
  3. You are here: DoLS authorisation – Rights and Responsibilities

DoLS authorisation – Rights and Responsibilities

Rights of the Relevant Person

Any person subject to a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards authorisation must have a Representative appointed to look after the relevant person's interests. This is usually a family member or friend, but may be a paid representative if there is no one else suitable or willing to act in the role.

The representative must have regular face to face contact with the relevant person and represent and support them when decisions need to be made about their care and treatment.

The Safeguards also give the person or their representative the right to request a review of the DoLS authorisation at any time if they feel that the situation has changed, or are not satisfied the authorisation is appropriate.

If there is a disagreement about the deprivation of liberty, the relevant person of their representative have the right to challenge the authorisation in the Court of Protection. An Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) can support with this.

Responsibilities of the Managing Authority

If conditions have been placed on an authorisation, the managing authority must ensure they comply with these and evidence to the Supervisory Body how they are working towards, or have met, these conditions. If they do not do this, the legality of the authorisation may be affected.

The managing authority should also monitor the person's situation, and inform the Supervisory Body if there are any changes where a review of the authorisation may be required. If a decision is made to move the person, they are admitted to hospital or they die during the authorisation, this must also be relayed to the DoLS Team.

Before the authorisation ends, the managing authority must consider whether or not the arrangements still amount to a deprivation of liberty. If they do still meet the criteria for DoLS, then a subsequent authorisation may be required, and should be requested using a Form 2, and sent in 28 days prior to the end date of the existing authorisation.

Download the guide for relevant person's representatives

  • Previous page: Guidance for managing authorities
NHS Logo

Associated Documents (DoLS)

  • Download - NHS Digital Annual report 16-17

Stay connected

Sign up for our newsletter
Footer Logo: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
  • About this website
  • Accessibility statement
  • Privacy
  • Languages
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Terms and conditions
  • Facebook logo
  • Twitter logo
  • YouTube logo
  • Instagram logo
  • LinkedIn logo

All content © 2025 Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. All Rights Reserved.

Designed and Powered by Jadu.

chatbot launch button image
Left Right
Full Wide Split Narrow
Chatbot avatar image
Hi, I'm Bailey
I'm here to answer your questions.

Hi, I'm Bailey, how can I help you today? You can ask me questions relating to a number of council services.

To start a chat you will need to click 'continue' to confirm you have read and understood our terms and conditions Privacy Policy.

Privacy Statement