What are our alumni doing now?

We were delighted to welcome members of our Alumni Community for an alumni event at our head office in London.

It was a fantastic opportunity for alumni of our programme to share their stories and hear from a panel of alumni who have taken different career paths after graduating from our programme.

Career pathways

Attendees heard from a range of alumni who’ve explored different options after graduating, including staying in social work in both NHS trusts and local authorities, and those progressing in alternative careers including therapy.

Jacqui Bell, Think Ahead’s Lead Practice Specialist, was joined by:

• Joseph Coules – Alumni (2021), Southwark Council, Locum Social Worker and Alumni Reference Group member since 2023
• Laurie Mathison – Alumni (2017), Senior Project Manager in Croydon Council and Alumni Reference Group member since 2020
• Amber Niemogha – Alumni (2017), Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, DBT Specialist Practitioner and Alumni Reference Group member since 2020
• Samuel Keefe – Alumni (2021), South London & Maudsley NHS Trust (SLAM), Care Coordinator for the Lambeth START team and Alumni Reference Group member since 2023

The panel discussed their biggest challenges and highlights since qualifying as a social worker, what has determined their career pathways, and how they have navigated making these career choices.

Sharing a memorable moment of his work with someone, Samuel Keefe explained:

“Thinking about the role of a social worker in context, there was a role for me there…to witness this moment. It stuck with me in a way I didn’t expect it to. Feeling one percent of what he may have been feeling, but it felt special.” 

Key takeaways

Alongside hearing from our panel, the attendees enjoyed a journey mapping network, and the chance to connect with other social workers.
Reflecting on the event they said:

• It was a great way to network with other alumni particularly for other job/career opportunities.
• Meeting other Alumni, opportunity to connect with other social workers.
• Enjoyed networking and speaking with other grads/social workers.
• Getting to speak to other alumni, especially those with a bit more distance to the course. Getting to meet in person the Think Ahead team.

We look forward to creating more opportunities for our alumni to connect with and learn from each other.

To find out more about our Alumni Community contact our Alumni Community Manager Amrit.