Failures in mentoring relationships threaten outcomes and can lead to chronic damage to participants. This paper reports on findings from a recent doctoral study to establish how a developmental mentoring model would impact toxicity. Using a case study of a regional public services mentoring scheme operating a developmental mentoring model, findings indicated toxicity may be avoided when a ‘distal’ model of mentoring is adhered to. The paper explores the significance of a professionally or organisationally distant mentor in the prevention of toxicity.