The child protection scheme takes measures to safeguard vulnerable children and young people at risk or suffering from physical, emotional or sexual abuse. This involves investigating reports of suspected abuse and where appropriate applying for a Child Assessment Order, Care Order, Supervision Order or Emergency Protection Order.

The local authority can apply for an emergency protection order of 8 to 15 days to safeguard a child who may be in danger living at home.

Each local authority is required to have a Children's Trust Board. The term Children's Trust applies to the whole system of children's services, covering the work of partner agencies at every level, from the development of the overall strategy to the delivery of front-line services. It is local authorities who lead Children's Trusts working closely with the other local agencies with a legal duty to be part of the Trust: strategic health authorities, primary care trusts (PCTs), police authorities, local probation boards, youth offending teams, Connexions partnerships, the Learning and Skills Council for England and district councils.

The Common Assessment Framework (CAF) for Children and Young People is a key part of the strategy to shift the focus from dealing with the consequences of difficulties in children's lives to preventing things from going wrong in the first place. It is a nationally standardised approach to conducting an assessment of the needs of a child or young person and deciding how those needs should be met.

Children's hospices provide respite and terminal care for children suffering from life-limiting conditions in a home-from-home environment. Care is provided for the child and their family at no cost to them for as long as is necessary, including post bereavement support.

Provision of residential accommodation for children and young people who cannot live with their natural families. Prior to a placement in residential accommodation there will be assessment of need undertaken in conjunction with the young person (and their family if appropriate), social workers and residential staff.

Respite care is a form of short-term substitute care provided by someone other than the parents or usual carers for a child. Respite care is a key support to families and is organised to suit the needs of the particular child and family. It can take place in a hospital, residential setting or in the child's own home. It gives parents free time to give them a rest, to spend time with their other children or in an emergency.

The Children Act 2004 requires each local authority to establish a Local Safeguarding Children Board. The board is a partnership between all agencies, organisations and services in an area with responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Typically this includes childrens social care, police, education, early years and Sure Start, health services, youth offending teams and probation services.

The Shared Care Scheme aims to provide regular short term breaks for children and young people with disabilities, by linking them with approved carers who look after them for short periods of time. This can be from a few hours to a weekend a month.

Special Guardianship is a legal order that gives the Special Guardian shared parental responsibility for the child in their care. Parental responsibility is defined as all the rights and responsibilities a birth parent would normally have for their child.