How is safeguarding managed in the Foster Care 18–21 Programme?

Safeguarding in the Foster Care 18–21 Programme is managed by adapting established safeguarding principles to the young adult’s age, legal status, rights and level of independence. The arrangement should identify risks before it begins, explain how concerns will be handled, and make sure the young adult and foster carer understand who to contact if something feels unsafe.

A key difference after the age of 18 is that the young person is an adult and should be involved in decisions about their life. Safeguarding does not mean removing their independence or treating them as a child. It means balancing autonomy with protection from harm, while considering factors such as vulnerability, mental health, disability, substance misuse, domestic abuse, exploitation, homelessness and contact with unsafe individuals.

At the start of the arrangement, the responsible professionals should clarify:

• the young adult’s current circumstances, strengths and known vulnerabilities;
• any risks connected with the home, neighbourhood, relationships, online activity or daily routines;
• what information can be shared with the foster carer and other professionals;
• how the young adult prefers to raise a concern;
• what action should be taken if the young adult is missing, injured, threatened or at risk of exploitation; and
• which services or professionals should be contacted in different situations.

This information should be recorded in the relevant plans and revisited when circumstances change. A safeguarding plan is not fixed: a new relationship, change in mental health, contact from someone who may cause harm, or a move towards greater independence can alter the level or type of risk.

Household safeguarding also depends on clear, practical boundaries. The young adult and foster carer should understand expectations around visitors, overnight stays, keys, privacy, online safety, money, alcohol or substances, and access to shared spaces. These arrangements should respect the young adult’s status as an adult while protecting everyone in the household. Any restrictions should have a clear reason, be proportionate to the concern and be reviewed rather than continuing automatically.

Foster carers are expected to notice and report concerns, not investigate them themselves. A concern might include unexplained injuries, coercive or controlling behaviour, signs of financial or sexual exploitation, serious deterioration in wellbeing, threats from another person, unsafe substance use or repeated unexplained absences. The carer should listen calmly, avoid promising complete secrecy, record what was seen or said as accurately as possible, and pass the information to the designated professional or service in line with local procedures.

Information is generally shared on a need-to-know basis. The young adult should usually be told what will be shared and why, unless doing so could increase the risk of harm or interfere with an investigation. Consent, confidentiality and the young adult’s wishes are important, but consent is not always required where information must be shared to protect someone from serious harm or to meet a legal duty. Professionals should explain the decision and record the reasoning.

The safeguarding response depends on the nature and urgency of the concern. Immediate danger should be reported to the emergency services. Other concerns may be referred to the local authority’s safeguarding team, social care, the police, health professionals or another relevant service. The route can differ because an adult aged 18 to 21 may be supported under adult safeguarding arrangements, local authority leaving-care duties, criminal safeguarding processes or more than one framework. The responsible team should explain which process applies rather than assuming that the arrangements used for an under-18 placement remain unchanged.

Safeguarding also includes responding properly to allegations about a foster carer or another household member. The concern should be reported through the agreed safeguarding route, with records kept separately and confidentially. The foster carer should not question witnesses, confront the person accused or attempt to reach their own conclusion. Professionals decide what enquiries are appropriate and whether any immediate changes are needed to protect the young adult or others.

Regular contact and reviews provide opportunities to check whether the arrangement remains safe in practice. The young adult should be given a private opportunity to express concerns, without the foster carer speaking for them. Reviews should consider incidents, near misses, changes in risk, the effectiveness of household boundaries and whether the young adult knows how to obtain help. Records should distinguish facts, professional assessments and the young adult’s own views.

Good safeguarding is therefore an ongoing process rather than a single check at the beginning. It combines safer planning, informed consent, appropriate information sharing, clear reporting routes, professional oversight and respect for the young adult’s independence. Where a concern cannot be resolved safely within the household, it should be escalated through the relevant local authority or emergency safeguarding process.