Last Reviewed July 2026
One Minute Guide to Building Trusting Relationships
Building Trusting Relationships
What do we mean by "building trusting relationships"?
Building a trusting relationship is about creating a safe,
respectful and non-judgemental space in which
children, young people and families feel able to talk
openly about their experiences. Many families in
Wakefield meet services during stressful, complex or
crisis driven periods of their lives. Trust is not
automatic, instead, it needs to be built through the way
we communicate, the consistency we show, and the
empathy we bring.
Trust isn’t a “soft skill”, it’s a core safeguarding tool that
allows practitioners to identify risks earlier, understand
the lived experience of the family, and work together in
a meaningful and sustainable way.
How this supports decision-making
This one-minute guide helps practitioners to:
- Feel more confident when approaching difficult conversations
- Strengthen professional curiosity and timely information sharing
- Reduce anxiety when encountering conflict or resistance
- Engage effectively with families whose circumstances are complex or shifting
Why trust matters in safeguarding work
Families who have experienced trauma, fear, stigma, previous negative involvement with services or repeated changes of worker may be wary of professionals.
Without trust:
- Families may withhold information or minimise concerns
- Children may mask distress or needs
- Engagement can become inconsistent or crisis-driven
- Professionals may miss early signs of harm or change
When trust is established, families are more open, children feel safer, and practitioners can work collaboratively rather than from a place of conflict or resistance. This directly supports good decision making across the Continuum of Need, as practitioners better understand what level of support is genuinely required.
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1. Use respectful, empowering language Avoid technical wording and avoid framing concerns in a way that feels blaming or shaming. Make your communication clear, kind and transparent. -
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2. Share control wherever possible Offering choices, even small ones, helps families feel involved rather than "done to". Explain processes, next steps and decision points so there are no surprises -
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3. Be reliable and predictable Doing what you say you will do, being on time, and following up builds confidence. Be consistent across visits, meetings and communication. Many families struggle with the inconsistencies in the allocation of practitioners. -
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4. Recognise and respond to emotion early If you notice anxiety, frustration or fear, acknowledge it. Early validation prevents escalation and shows the family that their feelings matter. -
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5. Remove judgement and increase curiosity Families may not behave in ways we expect, that doesn't make them resistant. Approach with curiosity, "I wonder what might be going on here...", rather than assumption. Be mindful of how you work with fathers and male caregivers as many assumptions can be made when working with this cohort.See the WSCP Professional Curiosity & Challenge page.
Understanding behaviours that may challenge
Behaviours such as avoidance, anger, lateness, shutting down, or changing the subject can be easy to interpret as unwillingness. But often they are protective strategies shaped by trauma, uncertainty, or fear of the consequences.
Ask yourself:
- What has this family experienced before?
- What need is this behaviour meeting for them?
- What might feel frightening or overwhelming right now?
Practical approaches that strengthen trust
- Prepare for each contact: who am I seeing, what is the purpose, what is the most trauma-aware way to approach this?
- Ask open questions and actively listen, including what is not said.
- Keep explanations simple and avoid jargon.
- Don't rush silence; allow time for thinking and emotional processing.
- Be transparent about concerns AND strengths.
- Check understanding regularly and invite the family to correct you.
- Bring in multi-agency information only with clear explanation and purpose.
- Reflect on your own biases and assumptions - they shape how you interpret behaviour
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