In order to ensure that children are protected from harm, local authorities commission, and may themselves provide a wide range of care and support for:
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adults, who may in turn be parents or carers of children and young people;
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children and families, including those groups whose needs may not be immediately obvious such as disabled children, children involved in gangs, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and children within the immigration system;
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older people;
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people with physical or learning disabilities;
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people with mental health problems;
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people with substance misuse problems;
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ex-offenders and young offenders, including those in custody and their families;
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families, especially where children have special needs, and/or where children are growing up in special circumstances as set out in the National Service Framework for Children Young People and Maternity Services and families experiencing multiple and complex problems;
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adults and children affected by domestic violence;
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children who need to be looked after by the local authority, through fostering or residential care; and
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children who are placed for adoption.
Local authorities also have a duty under section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to do all they reasonably can to prevent crime and disorder in the exercise of their functions.
