L B Havering — Best Interest Assessments

Descriptions

London Borough of Havering is currently out of contract in relation to delivering best interest assessments. The Mental Capacity Act Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards came into effect on 1.4.2009 and provides for the lawful deprivation of liberty of those people who lack the capacity to consent to arrangements made for their care or treatment in either hospitals or care homes, but who need to be deprived of liberty in their own best interests.Local authorities have statutory responsibility for operating and overseeing the MCA DoLS whilst hospitals and care homes have responsibility for applying to the relevant local authority for a Deprivation of Liberty authorisation. Havering previously held contracts with action first recruitment and reed social are to deliver assessments using trained social workers as it had experienced difficulties in meeting capacity in house. Havering wishes to continue this arrangement for maximum of 18 months whilst it undertakes procurement activity.