Our Adult Social Care teams set out a clear commitment to Barnsley residents following Care Quality Commission assessment

Barnsley Council has received its first Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment rating for Adult Social Care under the new national assurance framework. 

The service was rated ‘requires improvement’, just four points below a ‘good’ rating. Since the inspection, we have already taken further action and are confident this work is moving us in the right direction. 

The inspection took place in September 2025 and assessed how well we met our duties under the Care Act. This included how we work with partners, promote wellbeing and independence, and support people’s experience of Adult Social Care in Barnsley. 

What the assessment told us 

The CQC’s inspection findings give us a valuable, independent view of how well we are supporting people in Barnsley and where we must go further for our communities. 

Their report found we are performing well in several areas, including: 

• People can get help easily, with different ways to contact services, including online, over the phone and through Community Talking Points. Once people are in touch, support is built around what matters to them. Staff work in a person-centred way, focusing on people’s strengths, goals and choices, so they can live the life they want. 

• Local area councils and ward alliances fund community projects and activities that improve wellbeing and reduce the need for formal care, including walking groups, falls prevention sessions, and practical support such as food packs.  

• People are supported to have their voices heard, with good access to independent advocacy and low waiting times.  

• People also report that they feel safe using services. There are strong arrangements in place to protect people from harm, with close working between council teams, health services and partners such as the police. 

• More people are also being supported to stay at home safely, thanks to increased home care provision and practical support such as tracking devices for people with dementia. 

• There are clear and well-led safeguarding arrangements, with strong oversight and quality checks to make sure people are protected. 

• The council has robust systems in place to monitor care providers. 

• There is enough care provision in Barnsley to meet people’s needs, including home care and residential care, and this is supported by strong partnership working with the NHS and other organisations to provide joined-up support for residents and their carers. 

Inspectors highlighted the positive culture of learning across the service, where teams share knowledge, improve practice and continue to find new and better ways to support people in Barnsley. 

Our response and next steps 

We pride ourselves on having strong leadership in Adult Social Care that understands what’s working well and where we need to strengthen our support. We value the learning from inspections like this. This is why we’ve already begun developing a clear improvement plan to address the CQC’s feedback.  

We’ve made positive changes in some of the areas for improvement highlighted in the CQC inspection report:  

• The report found that in a minority of cases, people waited longer than our 28-day target for an assessment or review. We are reviewing how we work to ensure that we have what we need in the right place at the right time. In the meantime, we are strengthening governance arrangements, so staff and managers receive the support to hold timely assessments and reviews.   

• The CQC recognised improvements already made in relation to financial assessments. We expect these improvements to continue. 

• Workshops have been set up to explore ways to reduce out-of-area placements and to invest in specialist care closer to home. 

• We have plans for clearer staff guidance to help reduce reporting anomalies in data. 

We will continue to listen to residents, carers, partners and health colleagues as we make these improvements. 

Katy Calvin‑Thomas, Executive Director for Adult Social Care and Integrated Health, said:

“Although this rating is not where we want to be, the CQC’s findings highlight many areas of positive practice across our services. 

“Their report also provides valuable insights into where we need to accelerate improvements to best support our communities.

“Our teams are committed, skilled and compassionate, and with clear plans in place, I’m confident we will make the changes needed to deliver the best possible outcomes for Barnsley people, helping people to live well for longer, feel listened to and achieve what matters most to them.” 

Councillor Stan Bryan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Adult Social Care and Integrated Health, said:

“We’re proud of our Adult Social Care workforce’s dedication to do right by our residents, and this assessment gives us a valuable opportunity to strengthen support for local people. We’re clear that people in Barnsley deserve the very best care and support, and we will use this outcome to keep improving our services.” 

Why this matters for Barnsley 

Demand for Adult Social Care continues to grow locally and nationally, with more people living for longer with more complex needs and conditions. Despite these pressures, we remain committed to making sure people receive timely, quality, person-centred care and support when they need it. 

Our commitment to our residents remains the same: to help you live independently for as long as possible at home, leading healthy, fulfilling lives. 

Our Local Account for 2024/25 is now live on our website. These annual reports provide regular updates on the progress we’re making to improve Adult Social Care in Barnsley. 

You can read the full CQC inspection report by visiting the CQC’s website