Right Care Right Person

A national approach

Right Care Right Person is a national approach, which ensures members of the community secure the necessary help from the most appropriate agency.

Right Care Right Person aims for police forces to work with partners, including local authorities, NHS trusts, and mental health agencies, to improve care pathways to ensure that people receive the right support from the right organisation at the earliest opportunity.  

The programme has already been rolled out in other force areas across the UK, following the signing of a National Partnership Agreement on Wednesday 26 July 2023.

Dorset Police is committed to working in partnership to implement Right Care Right Person safely in the county, in line with phased timelines, as agreed by the Integrated Care Partnership. It is being introduced in four phases.

Phase 1 ensures that police officers are not routinely replied upon to conduct welfare checks when another agency may be best placed to address the needs of the individual. When people are in mental health crisis, they need timely access to support that is compassionate and meets their needs. While there will always be cases where the police need to be involved in responding to someone in mental health crisis (for example, where there is a real and immediate risk to life or serious harm or where a crime or potential crime is involved), police are increasingly involved when they are not the most appropriate agency to respond. Often, people experiencing mental health issues that receive a police response, despite having not committed an offence, feel criminalised for behaviour.

Subsequent phases of RCRP will include ensuring a better partnership operating model to respond to patients walking out of health or social care facilities, reducing police contact for persons detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act and reducing the need for police to transport patients to hospital and secure facilities.

Every call to a police control room is assessed using the national College of Policing RCRP decision making toolkit as this ensures Dorset Police is supporting individuals and partner agencies appropriately and improving the response to core policing responsibilities, such as preventing and detecting crime.

Accessing support

• If you, a friend or loved one requires mental health support you can access a range of services from Dorset Healthcare as part of Access Mental Health Dorset.
• Connection – a 24/7 helpline open to all ages. Dorset residents or people visiting Dorset can call 0800 652 0190 or NHS 111 for free.
• The Retreat – open to anyone aged 18 or above, providing a safe space to seek face-to-face help and support. 
• Community Front Rooms – open to anyone aged 18 or above, providing a welcoming, safe space where you can discuss problems and work towards possible solutions at locations in Bridport, Shaftesbury, Weymouth and Wareham. 

Anyone concerned about the immediate safety of a loved one should continue to call Dorset Police on 999 or 101.