Phase 2 of Right Care, Right Person set to launch in South Yorkshire

South Yorkshire Police is set to launch phase 2 of the Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) initiative to protect vulnerable people and ensure members of our community are receiving the right care and support from the right agency.

RCRP is a national model which has been created to ensure we are working collaboratively with our partners in the health and social care sectors to effectively support and protect members of our communities, by providing the most appropriate responses to incidents linked to welfare, medical and social care issues.

Assistant Chief Constable Dan Thorpe, who is leading the roll out of this initiative across South Yorkshire Police explains more about the decision to introduce it, “Where there are concerns for a person’s welfare linked to medical or social care issues, it is vital people receive the right support and care from the agency which has the right skills and training to provide this.

“The first phase of RCRP launched earlier this year and focused on reports relating to concerns for welfare. Prior to our adoption of this initiative, we provided internal training to our call handlers so they can better assess calls for service, understand what type of support individuals require and identify if the police are best able to provide this.

“As well as internal training, we’ve also worked with our partners in the health and social care sector to explain the principles of this initiative and the importance of the right care being provided by the right organisation.

“Based on the positive impact the first phase is having in ensuring we can better protect and support an individual’s welfare, we are now launching phase 2, which will focus on those who choose to leave certain healthcare facilities.

“In preparation for this phase, we have again been working with our partners to explain the services we can provide to protect vulnerable members of our communities who are reported as walking out from acute healthcare facilities and the legislative powers we have in relation to these types of incidents.

“Although this initiative brings a change in how we currently assess and respond to incidents linked to vulnerable people, I’d like to offer my reassurance that this doesn’t mean we won’t respond to incidents or provide help to those in need. Our number one priority remains keeping all members of our communities safe and we continue to work in collaboration with our partners to ensure vulnerable members of our communities receive the most appropriate type of support they need.”