Trainee protecting the female child looking innocent (6)
I believe the answer is:
cherub
'innocent' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'trainee protecting the female' is the wordplay.
'trainee' becomes 'cub' (cub can mean a new recruit).
'protecting' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are held or protected).
'the female' becomes 'her' (I've seen this before).
'cub' enclosing 'her' is 'CHERUB'.
'child looking' is the link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cherub that I've seen before include "Sweet little baby" , "A heavenly winged child" , "sweet infant" , "A heavenly winged babe" , "innocent young thing" .)