Right Care Right Person (RCRP) is a national initiative which introduces changes to who responds to mental health emergencies. It is a partnership approach to ensure the right response is provided by the right professional.
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Introduction
In 2020 Humberside Police introduced Right Care Right Person (RCRP) following a four-year pilot. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) recognised the model as good practice.
In February 2023, the Home Secretary announced an intention for a National Partnership Agreement to implement RCRP. The resulting National Partnership Agreement brought together signatories from the Home Office, National Police Chiefs’ Council, Association of Police & Crime Commissioners, College of Policing, NHS England and the Department for Health & Social Care.
RCRP is now being rolled out by police forces and health and care organisations nationally, including here in Gloucestershire. The NHS in Gloucestershire is committed to working in partnership with health and care, police, and other partner agencies across the county to ensure anyone with urgent and emergency mental health needs can be treated safely and compassionately.
Police intervention can sometimes have a detrimental effect on patients who can feel they are being criminalised because of their health or social care issues. It is imperative our communities understand that RCRP will not stop the police’s immediate response to attend incidents where there is a threat to life, a legal requirement or where there is another policing purpose.
Effective communication is highly important in the implementation of Right Care Right Person (RCRP) to ensure health and care staff, police officers, partners, stakeholders, members of the public, service users and the media understand its aim and purpose. This communications strategy outlines how we intend to communicate this approach across partner agencies and can be used as a guide to help all agencies create their own bespoke communications plans.