Dols

[independent98]

My Mum is in a care home on a interim basis due to leg ulcers and bed sores. They have approached me for a dols assessment as they said my mum seems confused but she seems quite sharp with myself and the family. I am extremely wary of thier agenda and want someone to explain to me in laymans terms what a dols is and its implications

Great OP that it has resolved itself

DOLS isn't a trick, it's an independent check, by a best interests assessor and a section 12 doctor should your mother be confirmed by their capacity assessment to lack capacity to consent to her placement in the home for purposes of care and support.

If your mum has capacity to consent to her placement, she can do this and FOLs authorisation is more required. She can choose to leave the home and love elsewhere without asking anyone.

If she lacks capacity to consent to placement. they need a DOLs authorisation including involving others, to double check that everything including her care regime is in her best interests and it is reviewed yearly (or earlier if anything changes)

It is absolutely a Human Rights check for your relative, if she had lacked capacity to consent and it's good they considered this.

Sorry mistype!!

I meant to write in middle paragraph

If your mum has capacity to consent to her placement (as assessed by BIS or section 12 doctor), she can do this (consent or decide otherwise) and DOLS authorisation is not required nor granted. Ie She can choose to leave the home and live elsewhere without asking anyone, other than to ask that they help her arrange alternative Accomodation /or support that may be available to her.

@independent98

Just a quite update, the dols assessment was today and they deemed my mum to have full capacity. I spoke with the independent assessor and he was perplexed as to the reasons the care home stated for a dols in comparison of how he met my mum today. Thank you guys for your advice

Interesting I hope she can leave soon, how is she?