Inspectors from the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) gave services at both Barnsley and Sheffield councils a maximum three-star "excellent" rating.

They praised Sheffield Council's approach to helping people become fully independent as soon as practically possible following time in hospital.

In particular they highlighted the work done in Sheffield to enable 60 people who suffered brain injuries, who might otherwise have had to stay in hospital, to live at home.

The high level of investment in rehabilitation, the good level of support to allow people to remain in their own home and the speed at which the council provides equipment and adaptations to help people remain independent were also all singled out for praise.

The city council's Cabinet member for independent and healthy living, Steve Ayris, said: "I'm delighted that the inspectors have highlighted the many positive things about the services we provide. This top rating is a reflection of all the hard work that has gone into social care in Sheffield."

He added that Sheffield Council would continue to improve and action plans had already been put in place to deal with the areas of the service which the inspectors said needed more work.

These included the speed of providing care for those with dementia and the modernisation of services for adults with learning disabilities.

Barnsley Council, meanwhile, was commended for providing "varied and effective" services to promote people's independence and also supporting people to live at home with "very good levels of intensive home care and equipment".

Inspectors said the council has an "embedded culture of consultation" and "supports people who use adult social care services to become involved in policy and service development."

People who use Barnsley Council's adult care services, they said, "are supported to develop confidence, skills and abilities to contribute to the wider workings of the community".

However, a number of areas for improvement were still identified, including making published information easier to read and helping more people with a learning disability into work.

The Cabinet spokesman for adult social services and health at Barnsley Council, David Bostwick, said: "I am very proud of our achievements and would like to thank staff, service users and carers for their ongoing support and commitment in addressing the challenges ahead and developing and delivering first class services with effective use of the resources available."

An inspection was also carried out by the CSCI at Doncaster Council, which was awarded two stars for its adult services.

This was an improvement on last year's one-star rating.

The director of adult services at Doncaster Council, Joan Beck, said a "tremendous" amount of work had been put in to gain a rating star.

She said: "Our staff will say they are only doing their job, but I know they will strive just as hard to improve services even further. I am proud of all of them."