Adult Social Care Glossary, v 0.6

3.--1) In addition to any requirements in regulations 6 to 9 and 11, a person can only be selected to be a representative if they are--

(a) 18 years of age or over;
(b) able to keep in contact with the relevant person;
(c) willing to be the relevant person’s representative;
(d) not financially interested in the relevant person’s managing authority;
(e) not a relative of a person who is financially interested in the managing authority;
(f) not employed by, or providing services to, the relevant person’s managing authority, where the relevant person’s managing authority is a care home;
(g) not employed to work in the relevant person’s managing authority in a role that is, or could be, related to the relevant person’s case, where the relevant person’s managing authority is a hospital; and
(h) not employed to work in the supervisory body that is appointing the representative in a role that is, or could be, related to the relevant person’s case.

7.1 The supervisory body must appoint a relevant person’s representative for every person to whom they give a standard authorisation for deprivation of liberty. It is important that the representative is appointed at the time the authorisation is given or as soon as possible and practical thereafter.

7.2 The role of the relevant person’s representative, once appointed, is:
- to maintain contact with the relevant person, and
- to represent and support the relevant person in all matters relating to the deprivation of liberty safeguards, including, if appropriate, triggering a review, using an organisation’s complaints procedure on the person’s behalf or making an application to the Court of Protection.

This is a crucial role in the deprivation of liberty process, providing the relevant person with representation and support that is independent of the commissioners and providers of the services they are receiving.

7.3 The best interests principle of the Act applies to the relevant person’s representative in the same way that it applies to other people acting or making decisions for people who lack capacity.

A person, independent of the relevant hospital or care home, appointed to maintain contact with the relevant person, and to represent and support the relevant person in all matters relating to the operation of the deprivation of liberty safeguards.

An RPR’s role is to be in regular contact with any individual who has been detained under Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS), working alongside them to ensure the least restrictive practice is maintained and determine any level of objection is present, then to uphold their voice in the appropriate format.

An RPR can often be a friend of family member. However, where there is no friend of family member who is willing or suitable, a paid representative will be appointed. For more information see: Support for RPRs.

The main duties of the Relevant Person's Representative are:

To maintain contact with the relevant person;
To represent the relevant person in matters relating to, or connected with the deprivation of liberty; and
To support the relevant person in matters to, or connected with, the deprivation of liberty.

An RPR’s role is to be in regular contact with any individual who has been detained under Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS), working alongside them to ensure the least restrictive practice is maintained and determine any level of objection is present, then to uphold their voice in the appropriate format.

An RPR can often be a friend of family member. However, where there is no friend of family member who is willing or suitable, a paid representative will be appointed. For more information see: Support for RPRs.