A wide range of services and professionals provide support to families in bringing up children.  

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children depends on effective joint working between agencies and professionals that have different roles and expertise.

Children have varying needs that change over time. Judgements on how best to intervene when there are concerns about harm to a child will often, and unavoidably, entail an element of risk. For those children who are suffering, or are at risk of suffering, significant harm, joint working is essential; all agencies and professionals should:

• be alert to potential indicators of abuse or neglect
• be alert to the risks that individual abusers, or potential abusers, may pose to children
• share and help to analyse information so that an assessment can be made of the child's needs and circumstances
• contribute to whatever actions are needed to safeguard and promote the child's welfare
• take part in regularly reviewing the outcomes for the child against specific plans
• work co-operatively with parents, unless this is inconsistent with ensuring the child's safety

Nottingham City Safeguarding Children Board includes representatives of the Local Authority and statutory organisations, along with a range of other organisations; including those from the voluntary sector, to ensure the Board is effective in the discharge of its functions.