Mental Capacity Act and DoLS training that gets your team CQC-ready
- CQC-aligned, mapped to the Care Certificate framework
- Completed in the hub in over 60 languages
- A certificate for every staff member, for your CQC evidence
- A wrong answer triggers a follow-up lesson, so gaps are closed
From £25.99 per staff member, one-off. No subscription needed.
Specialists in the technology behind it all
The same AI and technology behind the world's best products powers CareStream, so your team's mental capacity act and dols training stays accurate, always up to date with the latest guidance, and is delivered in over 60 languages.
The Five Principles of the Mental Capacity Act
The Mental Capacity Act is built on five principles that guide everything we do. First, we must assume a person has capacity to make a decision unless proven otherwise. Second, we must give all practical help to support someone to make their own decision before concluding they cannot. Third, a person has the right to make unwise decisions. Fourth, any decision made for someone who lacks capacity must be in their best interests. Fifth, any decision made for them must be the least restrictive option.
Which principle of the Mental Capacity Act states that we must start by believing someone can make their own decision?
The correct answer is “A person must be assumed to have capacity unless proven otherwise”. In the full module, a wrong answer triggers a short follow-up lesson and a fresh question, so the gap is always closed before completion.
That is how the training works. Give your whole team the full Mental Capacity Act and DoLS module.
What This Training Covers
A clear, practical grounding in mental capacity act and dols.
This training covers how we assess mental capacity, make decisions in someone's best interests when they cannot decide for themselves, and protect the rights of people who may be deprived of their liberty. Understanding these legal duties protects residents and ensures we provide lawful, person centred care.
Learning Outcomes
By the end, your staff will be able to:
What Your Team Will Learn
A closer look at the mental capacity act and dols module.
The module is built in short, practical sections. Each one teaches a part of the topic, then applies it to a real care scenario and checks understanding before moving on.
The Five Principles of the Mental Capacity Act
The Mental Capacity Act is built on five principles that guide everything we do. First, we must assume a person has capacity to make a decision unless proven otherwise. Second, we must give all practical help to support someone to make their own decision before concluding they cannot. Third, a person has the right to make unwise decisions. Fourth, any decision made for someone who lacks capacity must be in their best interests. Fifth, any decision made for them must be the least restrictive option.
When Mental Capacity Must Be Assessed
Mental capacity is decision specific and time specific. This means a person may have capacity to make some decisions but not others, and their capacity may change from day to day. We must assess capacity whenever we have reason to believe someone may not be able to make a particular decision at the time it needs to be made. Common situations include consenting to care, agreeing to medication, deciding about medical treatment, or making financial choices. Never assume someone lacks capacity just because they have dementia or a learning disability.
The Two Stage Test for Mental Capacity
Assessing mental capacity involves a two stage test. Stage one asks: does the person have an impairment of, or disturbance in the functioning of, their mind or brain? This could be dementia, learning disability, mental illness, brain injury, or even temporary confusion from infection. If yes, move to stage two. Stage two asks: does that impairment mean the person cannot make this specific decision at this time? To have capacity, the person must be able to understand the information, retain it long enough, weigh it up to make a decision, and communicate their decision back.
Making Best Interests Decisions
When someone lacks capacity to make a decision, we must make it for them in their best interests. This is not about what we think is best, but a structured process. We must consider all relevant circumstances, involve the person as much as possible, consider their past and present wishes, consider the views of family and others close to them, and choose the least restrictive option. We must not make assumptions based on age, appearance, or condition. Best interests decisions must be recorded clearly, showing who was consulted and how the decision was reached.
Understanding Deprivation of Liberty
Deprivation of liberty means taking away someone's freedom in a way that goes beyond normal restrictions. It happens when a person lacks capacity to consent to their care arrangements, is under continuous supervision and control, and is not free to leave. This is different from restraint, which is a single act. Deprivation of liberty is about the overall situation. For example, locked doors, constant supervision, no choice about care, and being unable to see family freely may together amount to deprivation of liberty. We must never deprive someone of liberty without proper legal authorisation.
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Process
When we identify that someone may be deprived of their liberty, we must apply for authorisation through the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, known as DoLS. The manager must complete an application to the local authority, called the supervisory body. They will send assessors to check if deprivation of liberty is happening, if it is necessary and proportionate, and if it is in the person's best interests. If authorised, it is reviewed regularly. We must keep detailed records of all restrictions and why they are needed. Staff must understand that unauthorised deprivation of liberty is unlawful and breaches human rights.
Key Points Covered
The things your team must remember.
- Always assume someone has capacity unless proven otherwise, and give all practical help to support them to decide
- Mental capacity is decision specific and time specific, so assess capacity for each important decision at the time it needs to be made
- The two stage test checks if there is an impairment of the mind or brain, and if it stops the person understanding, retaining, weighing up information, or communicating their decision
- Best interests decisions must involve the person, consider their wishes, consult family and others, and choose the least restrictive option
- Deprivation of liberty happens when someone lacks capacity to consent, is under continuous supervision and control, and is not free to leave
- Any deprivation of liberty must be authorised through DoLS by applying to the local authority immediately when identified
Who and how often
Mental Capacity Act and DoLS is refreshed every two years, for the staff in your care setting whose roles require it.
CQC and standards
Supports the training evidence CQC expects to see for a well-run, safe care setting.
How CareStream Delivers It
Not a slideshow once a year. Training that sticks.
CareStream delivers mental capacity act and dols training in the hub your team already uses, grounded in best practice and your own policies, so it fits your care setting and not a generic template.
Teach, then assess
Short teaching sections and a real care scenario, then an assessment that checks understanding.
In any language
Staff complete it in over 60 languages, while your records stay in English.
Learn and retry
A wrong answer triggers a short follow-up lesson and a fresh question, so the gap is closed.
Renewals handled
Automatic reminders at 90, 30 and 7 days, with a live compliance dashboard.
How your team gets trained
From your dashboard to your team, in the CareStream hub.
Training is delivered in the hub each staff member logs into. You allocate the modules, they complete them in their own language, and you get the completion records and certificates for your CQC evidence, with any gaps closed by automatic follow up training.
- 01
Buy and allocate
Assign Mental Capacity Act and DoLS to each staff member in seconds. No course builder and no setup for each person.
- 02
They complete it in the hub
Staff work through the module on any device, in over 60 languages, teaching then checking understanding. A wrong answer sends a short follow up lesson.
- 03
You track it
See live completion status and a certificate for every person, ready as evidence for CQC.
Safeguarding Adults
Mental Capacity Act and DoLS
Moving & Handling of People
Infection Prevention & Control
In every language
Any step, in their language, in one tap.
Care teams are diverse and training should not leave anyone behind. On any lesson or question, a staff member taps the language button and the whole step flips into the language they think in. They understand it properly, and your records stay in English.
- One tap flips any lesson or question into their language, instantly.
- Over 60 languages, with no setup and no separate versions to manage.
- Completions and certificates stay in English for your CQC evidence.
Try the language button in the preview, or see every language
Mental Capacity Act and DoLS
Learning: what to read first
About 35 minThis training covers how we assess mental capacity, make decisions in someone's best interests when they cannot decide for themselves, and protect the rights of people who may be deprived of their liberty. Understanding these legal duties protects residents and ensures we provide lawful, person centred care.
Built for real learning, not box ticking
Every CareStream course goes further than a lesson and a quiz. These features come as standard on every course, giving your staff a richer way to learn and giving you the evidence to prove it.
References and further reading
Every course is built on recognised UK guidance and cites its sources, from NICE and Skills for Care to the NHS and the legislation itself.
Key terms explained
A plain English glossary of the technical terms in each course. A simple way to support every learner, including staff with English as a second language.
Measured learning gain
A quick knowledge check before the lesson is compared with the final assessment, so every certificate comes with evidence of how much the course actually taught.
Reflective practice
After passing, staff record what they will do differently in their day to day work. Their reflection is saved to their training record and shown with their certificate.
A course summary to keep
A printable one page takeaway of the outcomes, key points and key terms. Perfect for staff files, supervision conversations and the staff room wall.
Observed competency checklist
A printable checklist for managers to confirm skills in practice, with a sign off section. It completes the picture beyond the knowledge assessment.
Wrong answers become lessons, not failures
Most e learning marks an answer wrong and moves on. CareStream does not. Every wrong answer triggers an automatic follow up loop that teaches the point again and rechecks it, so no knowledge gap is left behind.
Instant lesson and feedback
A wrong answer immediately opens a short lesson explaining the point, so the gap is closed there and then.
Targeted follow up question
A fresh question on the same point checks the lesson has landed. The loop repeats until it has.
Progress only when understood
Staff move on to the next module and their certificate once they genuinely know the answer, not just after one lucky guess.
Why choose CareStream?
Training built for the care sector, delivered the way busy teams actually learn.
Time to complete: ~35 min
FAQs
Frequently asked questions.
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Give your team mental capacity act and dols training that actually sticks.
See how CareStream delivers your mandatory training in the hub, in any language.