Safeguarding in Foster Care: Reflections From Recent Training.

Prior Mindset
Feb 5
3 min read

Safeguarding training rarely leaves you feeling comfortable. And that is often because it is doing its job.

I recently attended safeguarding training for clinicians working with fostering services, delivered by safeguarding and quality standards professionals connected with Excel Fostering, Capstone Foster Care, and Foster Care Make a Difference.

The training reinforced some important reminders about safeguarding, professional curiosity, and shared responsibility when caring for children and young people who are care-experienced.

At Prior Mindset, I work as a contractor alongside fostering organisations. This includes delivering training for foster carers and providing trauma-informed therapeutic support to children and young people in foster care and to care leavers. Safeguarding is therefore not something that sits separately from the work. It is woven into everyday practice.

Safeguarding is about noticing, not waiting for a crisis

One of the key messages from the training was that safeguarding rarely starts with a crisis moment. More often, it starts with small changes, patterns, or things that do not quite sit right.

Safeguarding is strongest when:

Professionals keep noticing over time
Questions are asked early and respectfully
Concerns are shared rather than held alone

This is not about blame or fault. It is about recognising that children’s needs change, situations evolve, and safeguarding requires ongoing attention rather than one-off checks.

Why professional curiosity matters in foster care

Professional curiosity is sometimes misunderstood. It is not about suspicion or mistrust. It is about staying interested in a child’s lived experience and being willing to ask questions, even when things appear settled.

In fostering, strong relationships are essential. Trust between carers, children, and professionals is a protective factor. Professional curiosity helps ensure that this trust continues to support children’s safety and well-being as circumstances change.

Safeguarding works best when curiosity is shared and supported, rather than avoided out of fear of getting things wrong.

Trauma-informed care and safeguarding go together

Children and young people who are care-experienced often have complex histories. Trauma-informed care helps carers and professionals understand behaviour, emotional responses, and coping strategies.

The training reinforced that trauma-informed care and safeguarding are not competing ideas. They work best together.

Understanding a child’s past helps inform care. Safeguarding ensures that their present and future remain safe. Holding both is part of good, thoughtful practice.

Supporting foster carers, not adding pressure

Safeguarding can feel overwhelming for foster carers. There can be worries about raising concerns, fear of escalation, or uncertainty about what is expected.

Safeguarding works best when carers feel:

Clear about processes
Supported rather than judged
Able to ask questions
Confident about where to seek advice.

Raising a concern is not a failure of care. It is part of caring well.

How Prior Mindset supports foster carers and care-experienced children

Prior Mindset is not a crisis service. Instead, the focus is on early support, understanding, and prevention.

Through contracted work with fostering organisations, Prior Mindset supports carers and children by:

Delivering safeguarding-informed training for foster carers
Providing trauma-informed therapy for care-experienced children and young people
Supporting understanding of behaviour, emotional regulation, and mental health
Offering clear, accessible psychoeducation

For carers and professionals seeking further support, resources are available via www.priormindset.com, including guidance and information designed to support understanding rather than overwhelm.

Safeguarding is not about reacting at the breaking point. It is about building knowledge, confidence, and clarity early.