The aim of the study is to improve patient safety by identifying factors influencing gatekeeping decisions by crisis resolution and home treatment teams. A theoretical sampling method was used to recruit clinicians. Semi-structured interviews to elicit various aspects of clinical decision-making were carried out. The transcripts were thematically analysed using a grounded theory approach.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S2056469418000943_sec_a2" sec-type="results">jats:titleResults</jats:title>jats:pPatient needs (safety and treatment) was the primary driver behind decisions. The research also revealed that information gathered was processed using heuristics. We identified five key themes (anxiety, weighting, agenda, resource and experience), which were constructed into an acronym ‘AWARE’.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S2056469418000943_sec_a3">jats:titleClinical implications</jats:title>jats:pAWARE provides a framework to make explicit drivers for decision-making that are often implicit. Incorporating these drivers into reflective practice will help staff be more mindful of undue influences and result in improved clinical decisions.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec id="S2056469418000943_sec_a4">jats:titleDeclaration of interest</jats:title>jats:pNone.</jats:p></jats:sec>