Guardian's charge (4)
I believe the answer is:
ward
<span class="explanation-format__ClueExplanation">'<span class="explanation-format__original">guardian's charge</span>' is the definition.<br/ ><span class="explanation-format__explanation">(I've seen this in another clue)</span><br/ ><br/ >This is all the clue.<br/ ></span>
(Other definitions for ward that I've seen before include "Councillor's area" , "treatment room" , "number of patients" , "Hospital room with beds" , "One under the protection of another" .)