THE number of adoptions has increased in Barnsley, according to a new report into how the council looks after children in its care.

Information reported by Barnsley Council’s corporate parenting panel – a body of councillors which scrutinises work relating to children in the council’s care – showed that the number of children adopted in Barnsley rose from 16 to 25, last year, reversing a prior downward trend.

A further 65 adopters were approved in the region, an increase from 57 the previous year, most of them local to South Yorkshire.

However, the service has faced challenges with the average time from entering care to being placed for adoption at 609 days, exceeding the target of 426 days.