The purpose of the Mental Health Assessment Service is to ensure that the Council can meet its requirement to ensure that a person subject to DoLS has received statutory Mental Health and eligibility assessments in a timely manner so as not to delay any outcome issued by the Supervisory Body. Kent County Council is awaiting the outcome of the national consultation in relation to Liberty Protection Safeguards and considering the implications of the UK Supreme Court 2026 judgement on what constitutes a Deprivation of Liberty. Therefore, the Council is unable to specify its requirements for a new service at present, and consequently, the Council is extending the current Mental Health Assessment Service contract by a period of 9 months. This extension will commence on 1st August and run through to 30th April 2027.

The purpose of the service is to ensure that the Council can meet its requirement to ensure that a person subject to DoLS has received statutory Mental Health and eligibility assessments in a timely manner so as not to delay any outcome issued by the Supervisory Body.