Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Assessments Service

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) is seeking to continue a tripartite arrangement with Vale of Glamorgan Council to provide Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) assessments. DoLS protects vulnerable individuals in care settings who lack capacity to consent to care or treatment, as required under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. As the Managing Authority, the UHB must obtain authorisations from a Supervisory Body before depriving any person of their liberty in hospital to provide necessary care and treatment. The Vale Council, acting as Supervisory Body, receives authorisation requests and arranges assessments to determine whether deprivation of liberty is appropriate and lawful. This service is essential for the UHB to comply with Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The UHB contributes 45% of the proportional costs for this statutory service. This contract is exempt from formal procurement as a horizontal arrangement under Schedule 2.2.3 of the 2023 Procurement Act, being entered into solely in the public interest to achieve common objectives in exercising public functions.