If we are to be successful in addressing the health inequalities across Barnsley, we need to really understand the needs of our population.

Barnsley's Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) is a strategic assessment of current and future needs of local communities. Whilst health, wellbeing and social care are a focus of the assessment, a range of other information is also included as this also impacts on people's health and wellbeing.

The assessment can be used to help local organisations to choose their priorities and plan local services. 

Targeted health needs assessments are also completed in areas where it is felt there is a lack of information. In recent years, this has resulted in us working with the Barnsley d/Deaf community for example to ensure our commissioning decisions improve health and well-being and reduce inequalities. A series of workshops and events and more in depth conversations, highlighted in this report by Healthwatch Barnsley, resulted in changes to local services, such as commissioning a BSL delivered mental health talking therapies service. 

The JSNA is usually one of the first ports of call when we complete equality impact assessments.

Click here for further information on Barnsley's Joint Strategic Needs Assessment published October 2019.