Job introduction

Job title: Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Coordinator

A bit about us:

Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic, and engaged communities, people who take real ownership of their local area and are passionate about making our city a better place. We've got ambitious targets to meet and we need people who are driven, dynamic and ready to deliver the very best for our communities. Public service is more important than ever, and this role represents a real opportunity to make a difference to our communities by transforming the way we work and placing our residents at the heart of everything we do. 

Working at Liverpool City Council provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services.

We are proud of our world-famous thriving city with its rich culture, as well as affordable housing, good schools, beautiful green spaces – there’s really something for everyone!

The role:

• An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Liverpool City Council as a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Coordinator
• The position is full time 35 hours per week and based at the Cunard Building. We work flexibly, taking a hybrid approach, with some days when you can work from home and some days when you will be based onsite

• The DoLS Team have an important role in upholding the human rights of residents in care homes and hospitals. As a DoLS Coordinator, your role will be unique as it combines business administration of documents that could be presented in the court arena, along with specialist DoLS legislative knowledge

• As a DoLS co-ordinator, you will be working with a dedicated and skilled team of Best Interest Assessors, Senior Practitioners, and other DoLS Coordinators, as as well as mental health assessors, other professionals and the DoLS Team Manager

• This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an already established busy team, and we would warmly welcome your application

Key responsibilities: 

• Responsible for the receipt, scrutiny, recording and processing of requests for authorisation.
• To assess the quality of all information received into the DoLS team from managing authorities and assessors and be confident in challenging staff across multi-organisational boundaries in order to attain the desired standard.
• Interrogation of liquid logic for verification of information regarding requests for authorisation.
• Responsible for the appointment of best interest assessors, mental health assessors and advocates.
• To be responsible for the recording and monitoring of conditions placed on a standard authorisation.
• Responsible for the monitoring of relevant persons representatives to ensure they are carrying out their duties.
• To work closely with the team manager around initiatives to develop and implement quality assurance mechanisms to ensure data is accurate and of high quality.
• To assist with planning, developing and implementing information and data collection, recording systems and analysis mechanisms in relation to MCA/DoLS.

What you'll need:

• A good knowledge of the policy and legislative framework governing adult social care and DoLS.
• You will have clear communication and excellent organisational skills.
• You will have an ability to support colleagues and work together in a very busy team.
• Be self motivated and able to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines.
• Well developed IT skills.

Our offer to you:

• At least 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays rising to 32 after 5 years’ service (pro rata if part time) - option to purchase further days
• Agile working (role dependent) - a “Flexibility First” approach to agile working, where flexibility is the norm rather than the exception
• Part of the Local Government Pension Scheme – option to join the AVC Scheme
• Progression - opportunities and training through a wide range of high quality learning
• Health and Wellbeing - offer including Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work and Travel Pass Schemes 
• Drive Time – a salary sacrifice car lease scheme
• Family friendly policies with enhanced leave  
• Discounted Gym Memberships 
• Employee Volunteering Scheme 
• Medicash 

Next steps:

Closing date: midnight on Thursday 12 March 2026 (subject to change)
Shortlisting date: Friday 13 March 2026 onward
Interview date: 8 to 9 April 2026
Interview type: face-to-face

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. Once the role has closed, you will not be able to submit an application, and we are unable to reopen the vacancy for you to complete it. We strongly recommend submitting your application well in advance of the closing date to avoid disappointment.

If you would like any further information or an informal discussion, please contact Sarah Hulme via sarah.hulme@liverpool.gov.uk. 

Watch our recruitment video and see what life is like working at Liverpool City Council.

Liverpool City Council is committed to fostering a workforce representative of the communities we serve. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe in appointing candidates based on their skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities. To support this commitment, we guarantee an interview to candidates from under-represented groups who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role. 

If you require any reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010, such as an application form in a different format or additional time to complete your application, please contact us at recruitment@liverpool.gov.uk.

Although we advertise on Jobs Go Public, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications.  Please ensure you complete your full profile, work and education history in Tribepad.

Eligibility to work in the UK will be verified in the final stages of the selection process. All candidates must either already have a right to work in the UK before commencing employment or meet the Home Office criteria for Visa sponsorship. Candidates who require sponsorship should evaluate the Home Office eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa before applying.

This is not legal advice, and we advise you to seek your own independent legal advice tailored to your own personal circumstances.