Understanding the Right Care, Right Person framework and how to respond
Right Care, Right Person (RCRP) is an approach used across England and Wales to help decide whether the police are the most appropriate service to respond to a mental health-related crisis or missing person concern.
This guide explains the threshold for police involvement in West Yorkshire, when to call 999 or 101, and what VCSE organisations can do to support someone before police involvement is needed.
It also brings together crisis support options across Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees.
What is a mental health crisis?
A mental health crisis is when someone feels unable to cope and needs urgent support.
Everyone experiences crisis differently. For some people, it can feel overwhelming or frightening. They may feel at risk of harming themselves, harming others, or unable to look after their basic needs.
A crisis can happen for many reasons, or sometimes without a clear cause. It can also happen to someone who has never experienced anything like it before.
A crisis is not defined by a diagnosis or a specific behaviour. What matters is how distressed or unsafe the person feels, and whether they need urgent help.
If you need help now
If you need help for yourself or someone you care about, call NHS 111 (select option 2 for mental health) or visit our crisis support pages:
What is included in the guidance?
The guidance covers:
- what Right Care, Right Person means for VCSE organisations
- when police involvement may be appropriate in a mental health crisis
- when to call 999 and when to call 101
- what information to gather before contacting police, and where it is safe to do so
- an overview of the National Decision Model
- best practice principles for de-escalation and crisis planning
- what to do if support is not available straight away
- information about missing persons planning, including the Herbert Protocol
- crisis support services across Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees
How to access the guide
You can access the guide online. This is hosted and maintained by Forum Central.
Last updated: April 2026