Framework for Services to Support the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (Mental Health Assessors & Best Interest Assessors)

Tender description

Framework for Mental Health Assessors and Best Interest Assessors regarding Deprivation of Liberty Safeguarding The London Borough of Bromley (“the Council”) invites suitably qualified professionals to join a Framework Agreement for the provision of Services to Support the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The Services will be divided into two Lots Lot 1: Mental Health Assessor Lot 2: Independent Best Interest Assessor For clarity, Tenderers should be aware that being appointed to the Framework does not mean that they will automatically be guaranteed to deliver Services to the Council. The Council is open to enter into contracts with any other provider for the provision the services the same or similar to these. The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) was introduced as an amendment to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 to provide a legal framework around the deprivation of liberty. These apply to people in hospitals and care homes and later to people subject to other care regimes in other environments, who lack the capacity to consent to the arrangements made for their care or treatment and who need to be deprived of their liberty, within the meaning of Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights, in their own best interests and to protect them from harm. The Council is responsible for considering requests to deprive any person of their liberty who is ordinarily resident within the London Borough of Bromley or who is placed in another area outside of the borough by the Council. As a supervisory body, the Council is responsible for commissioning the assessments required to determine whether there is a need for authorisation, as well as authorising the deprivation of liberty if appropriate. Part of the assessment process must be undertaken by a Mental Health Assessor to confirm that the individual meets the criteria to be deprived of their liberty. ‘Mental Health Assessor’ is a term under the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA) to describe a clinician who has met specific criteria relating to training and experience, and who has subsequently been approved by a regional approval board. Part of the assessment process must be undertaken by a Best Interest Assessor (BIA) to confirm that the individual meets the criteria to be deprived of their liberty. ‘Best Interest Assessor (BIA)’ is a term under the Mental Capacity Act to describe a practitioner who has met specific criteria relating to training and experience and who has subsequently been approved. Keywords: Mental Health Assessors, S12 Approved Doctors, Safeguards, Deprivation of Liberty, Best Interest Assessors