Guidance

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) data collection

Guidance for councils with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs) on how to complete the DoLS data return for the 2025 to 2026 reporting period.

From:
Department of Health and Social Care
Published
28 August 2025

Applies to England

Documents

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) data collection: guidance for councils with adult social services responsibilities

HTML

DoLS data return template 2025 to 2026

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 4.82 MB

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Validation tool

102 KB

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Data validation tool user guide

PDF, 550 KB, 7 pages

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Details

The DoLS data collection gathers information on all DoLS applications in England on an annual basis.

CASSRs should use the data return template and guidance to submit data on DoLS applications for people in care homes and hospitals.

You can submit data from 1 April 2026 through NHS England’s Strategic Data Collection Service. We recommend using the validation tool before you submit the data.

Contact asc.statistics@dhsc.gov.uk if you cannot open the Excel documents.

Updates to this page

Published 28 August 2025

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