The number of private sector jobs in Barnsley has significantly seen a boost, thanks to the growing demand in logistics, warehousing, and food manufacturing. We've also welcomed Anderson Power Generation Ltd to our borough, bringing 25 new jobs. Our Enterprising Barnsley team continues to play a crucial role in supporting businesses, ensuring they have the guidance needed to thrive. 

In Adult Social Care, our staff have undergone extensive training to enhance their conversations with customers, leading to a better understanding and meeting people's needs from the very first contact. 

Some of the highlights against our priorities between October to December 2024, include: 

Healthy Barnsley 

• We're seeing continuous improvement in the ratings of Good or Outstanding in our Older Persons Care Home Providers, with one care home improving its CQC rating. Our Commissioning, Improvement, and Assurance team is expanding which will help to address quality issues across the sector.  

Learning Barnsley 

• The number of overdue reviews in Adult Social Care is decreasing, thanks to our new Talking Points, which allow for timely and efficient reviews without the need for home visits. 

Growing Barnsley 

• Despite the bad weather, our town centre footfall increased. Events, including Remembrance Service and Barnsley’s Bright Nights Festival, attracted substantial crowds, and our Christmas Market, although cut short by Storm Darragh, was a big hit. 

Sustainable Barnsley 

• We're thrilled to see high visitor numbers to our museums and outdoor sites. Highlights include Cooper Gallery winning the Kids in Museums’ Best Accessible Museum Award, a live BBC Radio 3 broadcast from Cannon Hall, and the Building Bridges project celebration at Elsecar Heritage Centre. We also had children from Carlton Primary Academy in the Kids in Museums Takeover Day at Cannon Hall. 

Our report has highlighted some areas that need more attention. Our key focus is the number of people who receive care with how to do things after spending time in hospital or having an illness (reablement service).  

Due to the complexities of people's situations and the lack of criteria to remain in hospital, many are being discharged with long-term needs. As a result, we're seeing a higher number of people with more complex needs coming through the reablement service. We’re implementing several initiatives as part of a local action plan to support with this. 

Cllr Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Core Services, said: “Our latest performance report showcases the significant progress we’ve made in supporting residents and businesses. We’re proud of the positive outcomes we’ve achieved, ensuring our communities receive the best possible support to lead healthier, happier lives. Thriving businesses are crucial to our wider economy and we’ll continue to foster an environment where they can succeed.  

“Thanks to the dedication and hard work of our employees, we’re making great strides in creating an inclusive and welcoming workplace ensuring everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute to Barnsley, the place of possibilities.” 

Our latest performance report will be discussed at Cabinet on Wednesday 19 March. You can learn more about our progress on our webpage. 

You can find out more information about the report on our website.