A relevant person's representative (RPR)
When someone is or may be deprived of their liberty, the law calls them the 'Relevant Person'.
The law says the Relevant Person must have a 'Representative'. This means someone to help make sure their views, wishes and rights are respected.
- Sometimes this role is taken unpaid by a family member or friend.
- Sometimes this role is taken by a paid professional, such as an advocate
- If there’s no one available or willing, the council (like Kent County Council) will appoint a paid professional for this role
What does an RPR do?
During a DoLS authorisation, the RPR will:
- visit the person regularly to listen to what they think and want.
- help the person understand their situation and their rights under the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
- make sure the care home or hospital is following any rules set out in the authorisation.
- do their best to help the person understand what the authorisation means for them.
- support the person to use their rights, if that’s what they want to do.
If needed, the RPR can ask for the authorisation to be reviewed, or help the person apply to the Court of Protection to change or end the authorisation.
