Understanding Deprivation of Liberty

Join us for this focused and insightful seminar designed for professionals across social care settings who may be supporting individuals deprived of their liberty. This session offers a clear, practical guide to the legal principles, responsibilities, and processes involved.

📅 Date & Time: 19th May, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Live Online via Teams
📢 Early Bird Price: £40.5 + VAT (Register 2+ weeks before)
🎟️ Standard Price: £54 + VAT (Group Discount available for groups of 5+)

Whether you’re a frontline practitioner, team leader, or involved in care planning, this course will help you navigate the complexities of Deprivation of Liberty (DoL) in a way that prioritises safety, rights, and proportionality.

Why This Course Matters

• Depriving someone of their liberty is a serious and highly regulated act that requires clear legal grounding and careful planning. This course supports participants to:
• Understand the legal principles that underpin Deprivation of Liberty
• Learn the processes and authorisations required to lawfully deprive someone of their liberty
• Explore the expectations placed on care providers and local authorities
• Promote proportionate, rights-based care plans that reflect both risk and progress
• Engage in case studies and critical discussions to strengthen practical understanding

Course Highlights

• What is Deprivation of Liberty? – Legal definitions and key legislation
• When and How It Applies – Real-world scenarios, thresholds, and risk considerations
• Planning and Reviewing DoL Arrangements – Proportionality, safety, and reduction plans
• Expectations for Providers and Local Authorities – Good practice and documentation
• Case Studies & Discussion – Applying the law in complex, real-life situations

Meet Your Trainer: Stuart Donohue

Stuart is a registered social worker with 15 years experience in child protection and court arenas, as well as being a frontline social worker with various local authorities, Stuart has also worked for Cafcass, been a team manager and has worked as an independent social worker since 2022. Over the last ten years, Stuart has developed a specialism in working with children and young adults with disabilities who are deprived of their liberty. This has ranged from children who need higher than usual levels of supervision to keep them safe, to young adults with disabilities who are unable to consent to their care plans.

Stuart is passionate about the issue of deprivation of liberty and eager to share his experience and specialism in this area, particularly in promoting care plans which are proportionate and appropriate to the risks identified, with clear plans on how the deprivations will be reduced over time, whilst ensuring the subject is kept safe from harm.

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