The Mental Capacity Act 2005 introduced a statutory framework for decision making processes for persons over the age of 16 who are incapable of making decisions for themselves. Knowledge of the Act is a fundamental aspect of safe professional practice.

The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) is a process to consider authorisation of deprivation of liberty for individuals who do not have mental capacity to make decisions about their own care. Statutory organisations need to ensure that they have a group of staff members who are qualified to undertake the statutory role of Best Interest Assessor (BIA).

Bournemouth University has been approved by the Department of Health to provide this programme. The programme will be delivered as a series of workshops. In addition, you will be required to undertake self-managed learning, based on support materials provided by Bournemouth University.

During the programme, you will study: 

• Unit 1: Mental Capacity Act 2005 in Practice 
• Unit 2: Professional Use of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) 

Candidates who complete unit 1 will be awarded 20 credits.

Unit 2 can be undertaken by any health and social care professional but only a specific group of practitioners who hold a professional qualification and who can meet the other requirements as set out in the Regulations can qualify as BIAs. The relevant professional qualifications are the following: Social Workers, 1st Level Nurses, Occupational Therapists and Chartered or Registered Psychologists holding a Practice Certificate

Candidates who complete both units of this programme will be awarded 40 level credits and will be eligible for appointment as Best Interests Assessor subject to the above. You must complete both units at the same level.

Please be aware there is a requirement to 'shadow' a qualified BIA undertaking an assessment under the DoLS framework as part of the unit 2 assessment. Therefore, please ensure you have this in place before applying for the programme.

This course requires 100% attendance.

Students must have 2 years post registration practice experience upon succesful completion of the course.

Normally students may enter Level 7 (Master's level) study if they have been awarded:

• Undergraduate degree (honours or non-honours)
• An equivalent qualification (the learning outcome of which are demonstrably appropriate in terms of knowledge, understanding and skills) equivalent to 120 credits at Level 6.

If you do not meet this criteria you are still able to apply for this unit but we may ask you to complete a study skills handbook to familiarise yourself with academic writing at masters level or pre-admission work. This will be sent to you when we have received your application form.

This unit is also available at Level 6 (degree level).

Fees and funding:

You will need to pay or indicate employer support of payment for unit or course fees to the university.

Applicants should contact their employing organisation for further details.

Pre-purchased places

The Faculty of Health & Social Sciences has contractual arrangements with NHS organisations, Local Authorities and the Pan-Dorset & Wiltshire Teaching Partnership for pre-paid places on specified modules. If you work within Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset or Hampshire and Isle of Wight you may be able to access the pre-paid places. These arrangements allow organisations to nominate the staff they wish to send on each unit or course.

The pre-arranged agreements allow individuals, such as yourself, a route to access appropriate professional development opportunities that are seen as strategically important to your organisation (in consultation with your Line Manager/Education Co-ordinator). All requests for pre-paid places must first be agreed by your organisation prior to completing an application.

During the unit, your assessed work will comprise a portfolio of tasks which will include: 

• A reflection on a piece of your own casework using aspects of the MCA 2005. 
• A practice analysis based on the DoLS assessment you shadow
• A Third-party testimony.

 Having completed this programme, the student is expected to demonstrate:

1. An applied knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and related Codes of Practice
2. The ability to keep appropriate records and to provide clear and reasoned reports in accordance with legal requirements and good practice
3. The skills necessary to obtain, evaluate and analyse complex evidence and differing views and to weigh these appropriately in decision-making
4. The ability to work with vulnerable people in a manner consistent with the Key Capabilities for Best Interest Assessors
5. The ability to use reflection and  critical analysis to examine their own practice with service users and families where issues of mental capacity and human rights are central to care-planning

Course review:

In order to take advantage of new approaches to learning and teaching, as well as developments in practice to benefit our students we regularly review all of our courses. This course is currently going through this process and we will update this page to give you full information about what we will be offering once the review process has concluded.  These changes will come into effect for all new students from September 2025. Applicants will be notified by our admissions team of any changes.