Date published: 13 April 2022
The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a 16-week consultation on implementing the Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) and a revised code of practice on the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
LPS aims to safeguard individuals who lack the capacity to consent for their care arrangements if these amount to a deprivation of liberty. This scheme introduces new statutory responsibilities for NHS Trusts as they will be required to oversee and authorise deprivations of liberty within inpatient areas.
While the LPS will replace the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) system, it is expected this scheme will affect a larger number of people as it also includes young people aged 16+ and those in their own homes.
The consultation and engagement events
Mersey Care has arranged a number of sessions directed at our service users and carers to present the key highlights of the proposed changes, focusing on what the introduction of LPS will mean for them.
During the sessions, there will be an opportunity to ask questions about the new scheme and contribute to the Trustwide response to the consultation.
The sessions will take place as follows:
- 20 May: Hartley Hospital, 1B Curzon Road, Southport, PR8 6PL, takes place at 11am to 1pm
- 24 May: Liverpool Innovation Park, Edge Lane. Liverpool, L7 9NJ, takes place at 6pm to 8pm
- 6 June: Online via Zoom, takes place at 11am to 1pm
9 June: Hollins Park, Hollins Lane, Winwick, Warrington, WA2 8WA, takes place at 12.30 to 2.30pm(Now cancelled due to low uptake)- 13 June: Mercure Hotel St Helens, Linkway West, St Helens, WA10 1NG, takes place at 11am to 1pm
Anyone wishing to attend any of the sessions can book their preferred session by emailing mcaconsultation
More information about the session (room information, social distancing/mask-wearing measures, parking requirements etc.) will be shared upon registration. If you have any further questions, comments or if you require any adjustments, please contact us at the e-mail address above.
Additional information and resources
Mersey Care's response to the consultation will then be submitted collating feedback from the sessions with service users and carers and internal staff sessions.
We encourage everyone to access the consultation documentation, and an easy read version is also available. The consultation period will close on 7 July 2022.
If you have any specific questions or feedback about the consultation that you would like to share, please email at the above address.
Other ways of responding to the consultation
If individuals would like to independently submit their responses directly to the DHSC, this can be done by clicking on the “Respond Online” link at the bottom of the consultation page.
To respond to the easy read consultation, you can instead click on “Respond Online” at the bottom of this page.