BASW Chief Executive welcomes Think Ahead participants

Last Saturday, 16 April, represented a landmark moment for Think Ahead, with our 2016 participants gathering together for the first time at our Cohort Launch Event.

In addition to meeting their fellow participants and our experienced Consultant Social Workers, the cohort heard from Ruth Allen – a Think Ahead board member and the newly appointed Chief Executive of the British Association of Social Workers. Ruth gave her personal account of the importance of both passion and intellect in social work, and the impact Think Ahead will have.

“I’m really glad we had the opportunity to come to this event to meet people and hear more about what the role will entail” – 2016 cohort member

The event also featured a panel session, with two Consultant Social Workers joining two members of our service user group on stage to answer questions about mental health social work, and a thought-provoking scene from Acting Out Productions, who used audience participation to illustrate the impact social work can have on mental health.

The next stage for our participants will be shadowing their Consultant Social Workers for a day in the workplace, over May and June, before they begin the Think Ahead programme at the Summer Institute in July.