Professional curiosity is one of the most frequently discussed concepts in safeguarding and social care practice. Yet despite its importance, it can sometimes become something we talk about more than something we actively do.
At its heart, professional curiosity is about slowing down long enough to understand a child’s lived experience. It means noticing what is said, what is not said, and what may not fit with the wider picture.
In complex family situations, the information presented to professionals is not always the full story. Families may minimise concerns, professionals may become over-reliant on historical information, and busy workloads can sometimes lead us towards quick conclusions.
Professional curiosity helps practitioners stay connected to the reality of the child’s experience.
Why it matters
Safeguarding practice reviews have repeatedly highlighted the importance of professionals remaining curious, sharing information and continuing to test their understanding when concerns remain.
This does not mean practitioners failed to care. Often the opposite is true. Professionals may be working under pressure, holding complex caseloads and responding to competing demands.
What can become difficult is creating enough space to step back and ask: what am I not seeing?
What it can look like in practice
It may be the practitioner who notices that a parent gives a different account each time. It may be the team manager who asks whether the child’s voice is visible enough. It may be the social worker who checks whether a missed appointment is an isolated event or part of a wider pattern.
Curiosity supports practitioners to move beyond single incidents and explore patterns, context and relationships.
- What is changing over time?
- Does the person’s presentation match the information being shared?
- Are all professionals seeing the same picture?
- Have we heard directly from the child or adult?