Second phase of new policy to support vulnerable goes live

The second phase of a new policy to ensure that vulnerable people are given the right support from the right agency when they need it is now live.

‘Right Care, Right Person’ sees the force working with health and social care partners to ensure that vulnerable people are given the right support from the right agency when they need it.

Police will continue to protect the public where the risks presented need a policing attendance.

The first phase introduced on 1 October 2023, was geared to situations that when there are concerns for a person’s welfare linked to mental health, medical or social care issues, the right person with the right skills, training and experience will respond.

The second phase, introduced 1 March 2024, looks to address situations when people have unexpectedly left a healthcare setting. This relates to people walking out of hospitals, GP surgeries and mental health establishments or any other NHS facility where a patient may have attended for treatment.

The police do not have the power to bring patients back to a health care facility against their will unless they are under arrest, have been detained under the Mental Health Act or the Mental Health Capacity Act has been applied.

Police have no duty to take action with people who have left a health and care facility unless:

-There is a real and immediate risk to life or serious harm

-Or the individual is a person within the care of the police.

ACC Eamonn Bridger said: “As we said with the initial phase keeping people safe in Suffolk is our priority and we are steadfast in our commitment to attend incidents where the risks presented requires a policing attendance.

“We also reiterate that we must continue to focus on the core responsibilities of the police to the community to prevent and detect crime, keep the King's peace and protect life and property.

“However, this second phase is to address situations where we are contacted by health and care facilities to return people back to a health setting where they have unexpectedly left or are requested to check on their welfare.

“If particular thresholds are not met, police are entitled to expect the health agency to conduct reasonable actions to locate the person. Where the concern for someone’s safety is not critical, those healthcare professionals should be making those initial enquiries.

“It’s important to emphasise our professional, close working relationships with relevant partners continues as the programme moves through its various phases and close monitoring also remains in place to understand any impact from the change in approach.”

Similar schemes have already been adopted and Suffolk’s adoption is part of a national roll-out of the scheme to all police forces in the country.

Jason Joseph Head of Mental Health System Change on behalf of NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board said:

“We are pleased with how the roll out of Right Care, Right Person has gone to date and will continue to work closely with our partners and support Suffolk Constabulary as the initiative progresses.

“As always it is vital that those most vulnerable in our communities have access to the protection and support they need. 

“For those who experience a mental health crisis or social care emergency, they must receive fast and effective care and support from the most appropriate professional who is qualified to respond.

“Over the coming months, we look forward to evaluating the implementation of the programme.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk Tim Passmore said: “I am particularly pleased with the progress of the Right Care Right Person initiative in Suffolk and following the initial launch in October, I am confident the second phase will be equally successful.

“It is absolutely vital that people suffering with mental ill-health are attended to by properly-qualified practitioners.  Police officers are not such practitioners, but they will of course still respond where there is a risk to life, or a crime is being committed.

“We have been talking to partners about Right Care Right Person for over two years ago now and will continue to do so, sharing information about the implementation.  It is important these regular updates continue as the development of this shared approach is already proving to be very beneficial.”

*The procedure does not deal with those that leave children care facilities. Any child who leaves a health or care facility unexpectedly should trigger local safeguarding procedures.

Current proposed timeline of phased introduction:

Phase one – October 2023 – Concern for Welfare

Phase two – March 2024: Leaving health care facilities/mental health establishments

Phase three - Spring 2024: Transportation – non secure/secure ambulances

Phase four – Summer 2024: Mental Health Act Section 136

 

Previous release October 2023

Working with health and social care partners Suffolk Constabulary is rolling out a new policy to ensure that vulnerable people are given the right support from the right agency when they need it.

‘Right Care, Right Person’, being introduced on 1 October 2023, is a model designed to ensure that when there are concerns for a person’s welfare linked to mental health, medical or social care issues, the right person with the right skills, training and experience will respond. 

Frequently, police officers are asked to look after people with health or social care needs who require specialist medical support or psychological care that officers are not trained to provide.

In recent years there has been a significant rise in the number of calls for service police receive that are related to mental health.  These have often led to the Constabulary deploying to situations where it has no legal duty to attend and, probably more importantly where police officers and staff are not equipped with the skills, knowledge, or training to provide the best and most effective response to a member of the public at their time of need.

Under ‘Right Care, Right Person’, police officers will no longer be taking on this responsibility when it is not appropriate to do so. The care will now be provided by the agency that can best meet the individual’s needs. Police will continue to protect the public where the risks presented need a policing attendance.

Similar schemes have already been adopted by other forces including Humberside and North Yorkshire and Suffolk’s adoption is part of a national roll-out of the scheme to all police forces in the country. 

The threshold for police intervention will be:

• There is an immediate risk to life or serious harm to an identified person  
• Immediate harm – it is obvious to the police that there is a risk to life presently, at this moment or in the immediate future, or has already occurred
• Serious harm – there is a risk of significant harm to the person concerned, this can be physical harm, serious neglect issues, significant mental health symptoms, all of which would amount to the suffering of potential significant injuries or psychological harm

ACC Eamonn Bridger said: “Keeping people safe in Suffolk is our priority and we remain committed to ensuring the public are provided the policing service they would expect.

“General demands on policing have increased as criminality has become more complex. We must adapt our approach and focus on the core responsibilities of the police to prevent and detect crime, keep the King's peace and protect life and property.

“To be clear, we will continue to attend incidents where the risks presented requires a policing attendance. 

“We will also continue to work closely with partners as the programme moves through its various phases. People can also reassured that close monitoring is in place to understand any impact from the change in approach.

Richard Watson, Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board said: “The priority as always remains the protection of the most vulnerable in our communities. It rightly should always be the case that when someone is experiencing a mental health or social care emergency they are responded to by the most appropriate professional who can best deal with that situation.

“We have worked closely with Suffolk Constabulary and our health and care partners in the run-up to the launch of Right Care, Right Person and over the coming months will evaluate its implementation.

“It is important too to recognise that Suffolk Constabulary will still be available when needed to offer their support and expertise, and we thank police staff for all that they do in supporting our communities.”

Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk Tim Passmore said: “Right Care, Right Person is being adopted by police services across the UK and its aim is to ensure that vulnerable people are given the right support from the right agency when they need it.

“In recent years Suffolk Constabulary, like most other police services, has seen a significant increase in the number of calls for service it receives related to mental health.   Our officers are highly trained to deal with a variety of situations, but they are not equipped with the skills, knowledge, or training to provide the best and most effective response to someone in mental health crisis. These issues must be dealt with by health-care professionals and the Right Care, Right Person approach will ensure this happens.

“The Chief Constable and I attended the Health and Wellbeing Board back in March to inform partners and stakeholders of our intention to implement the Right Care, Right Person strategy and the Constabulary has been working with these partners to ensure a smooth transition, which will take place in a planned and gradual way.  Having spoken to individuals and organisations across the county I believe there is a good understanding and support for this initiative, which I very much welcome.

“The most important thing is that anyone in mental health crisis receives the most appropriate care possible and that will not, and should not, be from the police.”

Current proposed timeline of phased introduction:

Phase one – October 2023 – Concern for Welfare

Phase two - approx. Jan 2024: 'Walk outs' of health care facilities/mental health establishments

Phase three -  approx. spring 2024: Transportation – non secure/secure ambulances

Phase four - approx. summer 2024: Mental Health Act Section 136

Right Care, Right Person | Suffolk Constabulary - Further information