A TEAM which helps safeguard children in North Yorkshire has won an award.

The Multi Agency Screening Team (MAST), run by the county council with the police and health services and brings together staff from all three services to help children in the region.

The MAST team was last week given the accolade for Outstanding Partnership Working in the Harrogate Trust Celebrating Success Awards, for “a really positive partnership” which provided early interventions and “put children and young people at the centre of decision-making”.

Cllr Janet Sanderson, said: “This award again shows we are dealing with challenges head-on with ambitious and effective solutions on behalf of our residents. We are proud of both staff and partners and their commitment to finding innovative ways to support our most vulnerable residents.”

Detective Superintendent Nigel Costello, head of safeguarding at North Yorkshire Police, said: “The Multi Agency Screening Team is a relatively new and innovative way of working together which has vastly improved our ability to keep the most vulnerable in our communities safe. I am very pleased it has been recognised in this way.”