NHS Barnsley is 100% dedicated to improving the health of local people, and responsible for ensuring everyone in Barnsley has easy access to a choice of high quality health services. We fund doctors, dentists, pharmacists, opticians, community health and hospital services.

About NHS Barnsley

NHS Barnsley (Barnsley primary Care Trust) is the local leader of the NHS.

Barnsley PCT was created in April 2002 following the merger of five partner organisations and is responsible for supporting the local population of Barnsley (224,600 people) to maximise their health by promoting healthy lifestyles and commissioning  services that support healthy lifestyles and ensuring that people can access fast convenient health services when they require it. NHS Barnsley does this through strong partnerships with the people of Barnsley and other organisations.

The boundaries of NHS Barnsley are co-terminus with the Local Authority and cover a diverse area of 24 miles with a mix of rural and urban areas.

NHS Barnsley is given funding to plan and commission health services and it spends approximately £400 million per year on health on behalf of the people of Barnsley. It places contracts with doctors, dentists, pharmacists and opticians, community service providers and hospital services. Most services are provided in primary care and community settings and this proportion is increasing.

Barnsley has a single PCT which has recently undergone an internal restructure to split its commissioning function from the care service provision part of the organisation,

The Care Services part of the organisation (Care Services Direct) includes services such as adult health and social care services for mental health, older people’s services, physical disability and sensory impairment services and community and primary care services. This part of the organisation is being developed on a model which would establish it as a stand-alone, fit for purpose organisation with a range of health, social care and other associated contracts.

The PCT is also the host organisation for Yorkshire and Humber/North Trent specialist commissioning consortia, clinical networks,

Employability

We work in partnership with:

  • members of the public
  • Local colleges, Universities and training providers
  • Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
  • JobCentre Plus
  • Various funding bodies
  • Disability and employability support organisations
  • Barnsley Development Agency.

Through these partnerships we support Trust Managers and the individual participants/trainees in relation to employability schemes and placements. We create awareness and generate interest on what services the department offers, and provide support on the management of current and future placements throughout the Trust.

‘The placement helped me to develop an improved knowledge of what a personnel department does, and the different roles involved in the running of the department. One of the most useful things I did was to conduct an interview with a member of staff which not only helped me to understand their job role but it also helped me to understand the recruitment process of the business and how they select the correct person for a job.’ ‘Another reason why I enjoyed the placement is that the tasks I had to complete were actual work, not just boring tasks like photocopying or filing, this helped me to develop new skills and gain useful knowledge. The tasks I completed on my placement have helped to support my learning in the BTEC qualification in Business and Administration back at college as well, because I got to put what I had already learnt at college into practise in the workplace’ - Rosie Gash, Student, School Work Experience Placement

Improving Working Lives Barnsley PCT shows its commitment to staff by offering a range of benefits, from flexible working opportunities to holistic staff support services, and a host of other improving working lives initiatives.

Staff at the PCT are given the opportunity to work flexibly where possible and many staff do. The PCT considers all requests to work flexibly and current examples include:

  • job share,
  • part-time working,
  • annualised hours,
  • school term time working,
  • flexi-time and a
  • nine day fortnight.

The PCT achieved Practice Plus status for its work on Improving Working Lives a few years ago and has continued to build upon this standard through its Staff Communication and Action Group.

Pay and Conditions

Agenda for Change applies to over one million NHS staff across the UK. The new pay system ensures fair pay and a clearer system for career progression. For the first time staff are now paid on the basis of the jobs they are doing and the skills and knowledge they apply to these jobs. This reform is underpinned by a job evaluation scheme specifically designed for the NHS.

To support personal development and career progression, there is the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework, linked to annual development reviews and personal development plans. The system is designed to replace outdated demarcations and allows staff to progress by taking on new responsibilities. This will allow jobs to be designed around patient and staff needs, improving overall productivity and the job satisfaction for staff. The new system has also introduced standard arrangements for hours, annual leave and overtime.

Leave entitlements

Holiday entitlements are awarded according to NHS Service and all staff are entitled to 8 days public holidays.

 

 

ommissioning process of approx £600million on behalf of the other PCTs.