Lead Officer - MCA & DoLS

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

To lead the operational delivery and continuous development of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) arrangements across North East Lincolnshire. To act as the operational lead for the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) across North East Lincolnshire, promoting consistent, legally compliant practice across the Local Authority, health partners and providers. To provide system leadership across North East Lincolnshire, reporting to the Safeguarding Adults Board and supporting provider and system-wide MCA compliance. To lead and oversee all Court of Protection and related legal casework, acting as the principal liaison with Legal Services and ensuring robust, timely and legally compliant practice. To provide leadership and management oversight of specialist functions including the DoLS Team, Best Interests Assessors, Mental Health Assessors and court work activity, and to support the Head of Service in discharging statutory safeguarding and adult social care responsibilities. To drive quality, performance and practice improvement through the development and implementation of policy, procedures and audit frameworks, ensuring services are compliant, effective and person-centred. To lead the interpretation and implementation of evolving legal frameworks relating to deprivation of liberty, including the 2026 Supreme Court judgment, ensuring consistent and lawful application across North East Lincolnshire. To support strategic development and system readiness for future Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) implementation.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

Provide visible, credible leadership for MCA, DoLS and Court of Protection work across North East Lincolnshire, ensuring a strong focus on human rights, legal literacy and person-centred practice. Support the Head of Service for Safeguarding in the strategic leadership of adult social care functions, including deputising where appropriate. Translate strategic priorities into clear operational plans across DoLS, MCA and legal functions. Contribute to inspection readiness and continuous improvement in response to CQC and other regulatory frameworks. Provide system leadership across North East Lincolnshire, influencing partners and promoting consistent and effective MCA application. Participate in the senior management on-call rota, providing advice, guidance and decision-making in relation to complex, high-risk or emergency situations.

Practice & Performance

Ensure all MCA and DoLS practice is compliant with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, associated Codes of Practice and relevant case law. Ensure that individuals Article 5 rights are protected through robust identification and oversight where arrangements may amount to a deprivation of liberty. Provide professional leadership in the application of the revised legal test for deprivation of liberty, ensuring a consistent, evidence-based and person-centred approach to decision-making. Support the review and prioritisation of existing and new cases in response to changes in the legal threshold for deprivation of liberty. Lead the development, implementation and oversight of policies, procedures and practice guidance relating to MCA, DoLS and Court of Protection work. Establish and maintain robust quality assurance and audit frameworks to monitor practice, performance and outcomes. Ensure learning from audits, complaints, Safeguarding Adults Reviews and inspections is embedded into practice improvement. Provide oversight, advice and decision-making in complex, high-risk or contentious cases. Ensure the lawful identification, authorisation and review of deprivation of liberty, applying the least restrictive principle. Monitor and drive performance against statutory duties, key performance indicators and local priorities.

Training

Lead the development and delivery of a multi-agency MCA training programme, aligned to Safeguarding Adults Board priorities and delivered to all Health & Social Care Partners across North East Lincolnshire. Ensure training reflects current legislation, case law and emerging policy, including Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) and meets the needs specified by the North East Lincolnshire Safeguarding Adults Board Learning and Workforce Development (SAB and LWD) Training Strategy. Promote a culture of legal literacy, rights-based practice and continuous professional development across the workforce. Quality assure the content and delivery of training to ensure it is effective, consistent and meets system needs.

People

Provide leadership and management oversight of specialist functions including the DoLS Team, Best Interests Assessors, Mental Health Assessors and court work activity promoting a culture of high performance, continuous improvement, efficiency, best value, innovation and customer focus. Provide effective supervision, support and professional leadership to staff, ensuring high standards of practice and accountability. Lead workforce development, including recruitment, retention and development of specialist roles. Support the development of a skilled, confident workforce able to deliver legally compliant and person-centred practice. Address performance and conduct issues in line with organisational policies and procedures. Responsible for the recruitment, selection and induction of high quality staff, ensuring safe recruitment practices and contributing to a stable, skilled workforce. Either by self, or by supporting others, ensure issues pertaining to performance and conduct are dealt with promptly and according to Company policies and procedures; this may include attending and presenting at disciplinary hearings.

Finance

Support the Head of Service in the effective management of delegated budgets relating to DoLS, Mental Health Act assessments and associated functions. Ensure resources are used efficiently and deliver value for money whilst maintaining statutory compliance and service quality. Contribute to service planning and resource allocation to meet current and future demand.

Legal and Governance

Lead and oversee all Court of Protection and related legal casework. Act as the principal liaison between Adult Social Care and Legal Services, ensuring timely instruction and progression of cases. Ensure high-quality, evidence-based court documentation, including statements, care plans and assessments. Act as an authorised signatory for DoLS determinations where delegated by the Director of Adult Social Services (DASS) ensuring decisions are evidence-based and legally robust. Ensure robust governance arrangements across MCA, DoLS and legal functions, including risk management, reporting and escalation. Lead responses to complaints relating to MCA, DoLS and court work, ensuring learning is captured and embedded. Ensure compliance with legislative frameworks including the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Care Act 2014 and relevant human rights obligations.

Partnership Working & Networking

Chair the MCA Sub-Group, providing MCA and DoLS system leadership across North East Lincolnshire, ensuring effective governance, delivery of key priorities and reporting to the Safeguarding Adults Board. Lead system-wide understanding and implementation of changes to deprivation of liberty law, supporting partners and providers to adapt practice safely and lawfully. Work collaboratively with all partners, providers and wider stakeholders to ensure consistent MCA practice across North East Lincolnshire. Support providers to meet their statutory responsibilities under the MCA, working alongside Contracts and Quality performance teams. Represent North East Lincolnshire at local, regional and national MCA, DoLS and LPS forums. Develop and maintain strong multi-agency relationships to support system-wide improvement and compliance.

Business Planning

Contribute to service development, innovation and transformation across MCA, DoLS and legal functions. Lead and contribute to system-wide response and transition planning following significant legal developments, including review of existing DoLS cases and future service demand. Support North East Lincolnshire’s readiness for Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS), including workforce development, process design and system alignment. Work with the Head(s) of Service to plan future capacity and demand, ensuring sustainable and effective service delivery. Translate strategic plans into operational delivery across the organisation and wider health and social care system, delivering within financial constraints.

NoteNo role profile can cover every issue which may arise within the post at various times. The post holder is expected to carry out other duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with those described.