STOPPING youngsters from turning to crime is the focus of a new scheme being piloted in North Yorkshire.

The County Council has received the go-ahead from the Government to design and pilot a new process of working with young people in the youth justice system.

Currently, when a child or teenager finds themselves at risk of criminality, members of the Youth Justice Service will develop an intervention plan using an assessment called AssetPlus.

Now the council’s Youth Justice Service has been selected as of one five high-performing councils by the Department for Education to trial an alternative approach to preventing criminality in young people.

Cllr Janet Sanderson, executive member for children and young people’s services, said it was 'an historic opportunity' to try a new and innovative approach.

She added: “We hope that ultimately it will not only prevent young people from reoffending, but provide young people with better outcomes by increasing their resilience, self-esteem and attainment.”

The new assessment process is designed to be easily understood by people working with the young person such as their teachers and social workers.

It also aims to enable Youth Justice Service staff to spend the majority of their time working with children and families, who will become more involved in the process than previously.

One of those involved in drawing up the plan is frontline social worker, Sam Fugill, who said the pilot looked at creating long-term solutions by working with the young person’s wider family.

Stuart Carlton, director of children and young people’s services, added: “We also want the priority for our Youth Justice Service to be spending time working with children and families.

“Staff can spend up to two-thirds of their time on paperwork.

"This pilot aims to flip that ratio so staff are spending two-thirds of their time working with young people and their families, supporting them to prevent their child turning to crime.”