What is a Standard Authorisation?

In this video I will explain what a standard authorisation is and how it may affect you or somebody you know. My name is Olivia Allen and I work in the Court of Protection department at GN Law.
A Standard Authorisation is used to lawfully deprive someone of their liberty in order to care for them. So what does it mean if someone is deprived of their liberty? This occurs when:
1. They are under continuous supervision and control;
2. They are not free to leave the place they are in;
3. and that person lacks the capacity to consent to these arrangements.
Special safeguards are needed if a person is to be deprived of their liberty. These are called the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (otherwise known as DOLs), and can only be used if the person will be deprived of their liberty in a care home or hospital.
Now, before someone can be lawfully deprived of their liberty, the care home or hospital where they are staying must get permission from the relevant authority (most commonly the local authority).
This is called applying for a standard authorisation and it will only be given if it assessed to be in the best interests of the person who lacks capacity.
If a standard authorisation is given, it will do 3 things:
1. firstly, name the place that the person without capacity is to be looked after;
2. secondly, say for how long it will last (most commonly up to 1 year);
3. and thirdly, it may attach conditions, such as that the person will have access to the community.
Also, sf a standard authorisation is given, one key safeguard is the right to challenge the authorisation in the Court of Protection, which I talk about in another video. I address this in the next video in the series.
So to conclude, if used correctly, a standard authorisation under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards is there to protect vulnerable adults who lack the capacity to make a decision about where they should be living, in circumstances where they are deprived of their liberty.
You should now have an understanding of what it means for someone to be deprived of their means and what a standard authorisation is. But finally please note that the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards scheme will be changing in October 2020, and we have other videos on the new scheme, which you may find helpful.
If you need help and advice on this or any other Court of Protection matter call me today on 0208 492 2290, and if you found this video helpful, please share it.