(Left to right) Carly Speechley, Barnsley Council’s Executive Director of Children’s Services and David Akeroyd, Barnsley College’s Deputy Principal for Development and Productivity at the Children’s Services Academy launch.
Barnsley College has partnered with Barnsley Council to inspire the next generation of social workers, early years practitioners and residential carers through the launch of a Children’s Services Academy.
“We want to make Barnsley the place of possibilities, raising ambitions and supporting people to develop and grow. “
Located at the College’s Old Mill Lane campus, the academy will support the College’s Childcare, Health, Science and Social Care Professions department by offering opportunities to students through work placements, expert advice and workshops; it will also act as a base for Barnsley Council employees to engage in further professional development.
The objective of the academy is to provide students with a deeper understanding of the career prospects available within the Childcare, Health and Social Care sector in a bid to boost the workforce within these industries.
At the launch, representatives from Barnsley Council and the College emphasised the importance of retaining talent within the town and promoting local Children’s Services opportunities as practical and engaging career paths.
David Akeroyd, Deputy Principal for Development and Productivity at Barnsley College, said: “We want to ensure that our students have accessible and rewarding careers after they leave us.
“In partnering with Barnsley Council to launch the Children’s Services academy, we’re able to give Health, Childcare and Early Years students opportunities to better understand the sector and careers available, whilst introducing them to a range of skilled roles that exist on their doorstep and providing a skilled future workforce for local employers.”
Carly Speechley, Executive Director of Children’s Services at Barnsley Council, added: “We want to make Barnsley the place of possibilities, raising ambitions and supporting people to develop and grow. Our Children’s Services Academy is doing just that, bringing our Barnsley 2030 vision to life.
“To be able to recruit and retain a skilled workforce, which can work positively with our children and young people to create ambition and achieve great outcomes, is a key driving force behind this collaboration. I am looking forward to having the opportunity to use our organisation as a place to provide opportunities for students in Barnsley to build successful careers where they live.
“I hope that, through the Academy, we will be able to give the students a real flavour for what it’s like to work in local government and Children’s Services while reaching in and supporting them to be confident and work-ready.”
The Barnsley Council Children’s Services Academy is the latest in the College’s partnership strategy, offering students and the community a chance to develop their skills and progress to further and higher levels of study in rewarding industries. To find out more about Barnsley College’s other collaborative projects, visit: www.barnsley.ac.uk/news
Last updated: 21st July 2023
Originally posted on: 21st June 2023