New Guidance to Ensure Right Care for Vulnerable Children

A new initiative designed to improve the response to vulnerable individuals in emergency situations has been unveiled. The "Right Care Right Person" (RCRP) toolkit, developed through the collaborative efforts of the College of Policing, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), is set to transform how police forces across England and Wales handle calls concerning vulnerable persons.

A Comprehensive Approach to Emergency Response

First published on 14 March 2024, the RCRP toolkit aims to ensure that individuals in distress receive the most appropriate care from the right emergency services. The toolkit focuses on several key scenarios, including concerns for the welfare of individuals, those who have absconded from healthcare settings, individuals absent without leave (AWOL) from mental health services, and various medical incidents.

The primary goal of the RCRP is to aid police forces in determining when a police response is necessary and when it might be more appropriate for health or social care agencies to intervene. By offering clear, legally-informed guidance, the toolkit helps ensure that responses to these sensitive situations are handled consistently and effectively across the country.

A highlight of the toolkit is the inclusion of a "smarter practice" example from Humberside Police, where the RCRP initiative has been successfully trialled. This example has been thoroughly reviewed by the College of Policing, the NPCC, and HMICFRS, and is now being shared with other forces as a model for further testing and implementation.

The RCRP toolkit represents a significant step forward in emergency response practices. It is based on extensive legal advice and developed in partnership with health and social care agencies to ensure a holistic approach to supporting vulnerable individuals. This collaboration underscores the importance of an integrated response system where different services work together seamlessly to provide the best possible care.

CSCP 7 Minute Briefing for all safeguarding practitioners

To coincide with the new guidance, a seven-minute briefing has been released focusing on the implementation principles of RCRP specifically for children. Developed in consultation with representative bodies for statutory safeguarding partners and relevant agencies, this briefing emphasises the importance of prioritising child safeguarding in decision-making processes. 

Key principles include:

Collaboration: Safeguarding partners should work together to ensure the right agency responds to RCRP calls, with joint risk assessments and local implementation plans developed collaboratively.

Child Safeguarding at the Centre: Decision-making should prioritise the welfare of children, as outlined in the Children Act 2004, ensuring their needs are identified and addressed promptly.

Best Interests of the Child: The best interests of the child should guide all decisions, with referrals to appropriate agencies made even in the absence of immediate significant harm.

Treating Children as Vulnerable: Police force policies should explicitly recognise children as inherently vulnerable, incorporating this into risk assessments and responses.

Download RCRP 7 Minute Briefing

By raising awareness of this new guidance, the RCRP toolkit is set to make a significant impact on the way vulnerable individuals are treated in emergency situations, ensuring they receive the care and support they need from the most appropriate services.