New places available to join the Think Ahead programme in 2018
We are delighted to announce that, due to an increase in the number of places available at some of our NHS and Local Authority partners, we are today opening applications for new places on the Think Ahead programme this year. About the Think Ahead programme Our two-year programme in mental health social work offers graduates […]
- 20 Mar / 18In the media
“Social issues can have a massive impact on a person’s mental health and recovery” – Think Ahead mental health social workers speak to Community Care
A Think Ahead participant and a Consultant Social Worker have told Community Care, a leading social work news website, why social approaches are so important in mental health care. As a Consultant Social Worker at the London Borough of Bexley, Nicola Shawyer manages a unit of four participants on their first year of the programme. […]
- 20 Mar / 18In the media
Celebrating mental health social workers on World Social Work Day
On World Social Work Day (Tuesday 20 March) social workers come together to celebrate the profession’s achievements. To mark this event, Think Ahead is highlighting the valuable contribution mental health social workers make – and the impact that social approaches to mental health have on people’s lives. Think Ahead participants have been profiled in the […]
- 20 Mar / 18In the media
“Being supported in the community can help to remove the stigma around mental illness” – Think Ahead participant Thea writes in the Independent
Think Ahead participant Thea Radburn has written in the Independent’s comment section, Independent Voices, about the importance of social approaches in treating mental illness, and what her job as a mental health social worker involves in practice. Thea, who started the Think Ahead programme in 2016, says that while therapies, medication and inpatient care can be […]
- 20 Mar / 18Features
“I love the feeling I get when I know I’ve helped someone” – a Think Ahead participant describes a typical week in the life of a mental health social worker
Sonya Chee, a participant in the second year of the Think Ahead programme, has been included in a promotional feature in the Metro newspaper, describing her typical working week. Sonya is a qualified social worker and is based in an Early Intervention in Psychosis team in East London NHS Foundation Trust. In the feature, she […]
- 19 Mar / 18Features
“It is rewarding when you help someone recover” – participants share what they enjoy about training to be mental health social workers
Three of our participants – Suzanne, Arnold and Jan – have been included in a promotional feature in the Evening Standard, talking about what drew them to the Think Ahead programme, and how they’re finding their roles. Suzanne Suzanne, 29, studied Law at the University of Cambridge, and embarked on a legal career – but […]
- 9 Mar / 18News
Think Ahead opens applications for academic partner
Update: 9 April 2018. We have now closed our invitation to tender. Think Ahead is inviting applications from academic institutions to become our academic partner for our fourth and fifth intakes. The successful institution will become a vital part of the Think Ahead programme – delivering dynamic and innovative teaching in pioneering social work theory […]
- 27 Feb / 18In the media
“My days are busy but I’m lucky to really love my job” – Think Ahead participant Zoe describes her typical working day
Think Ahead participant Zoe Rice-Jones has written an article for Blueprint, a Cambridge-based magazine about mental health, describing the work she does training to become a mental health social worker. Zoe is training and working in a local community mental health team made up of social workers, nurses, doctors and psychologists who collectively support 700 […]
- 18 Jan / 18News
Deadline announced for applications to join Think Ahead in 2018
Today we’re announcing that the closing deadline for applications to join our 2018 intake is Thursday 1 February 2018 at 5pm. We’re looking for remarkable graduates and career-changers who want to make a real difference to people with mental health problems. If you want a graduate job that is both rewarding and challenging, our intensive […]
- 13 Dec / 17In the media
“Exciting, a little bit scary” – participants catch up with Radio 4 about their Think Ahead journey
A year ago BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind began a series of interviews with two members of Think Ahead’s 2016 intake – Charlotte Seymour and Alec Tooms. At that point Charlotte and Alec were at the beginning of their journey into mental health social work; a year on they are over half way […]
- 6 Dec / 17Features
“Thank you to my social worker”
An adult with mental health problems writes about the difference a trainee social worker on the Think Ahead programme has made to her. I’m in my mid-50s and have had mental health issues most of my life. I have been supported by a number of mental health professionals over the years – some good, some […]
- 23 Nov / 17Features
“It’s how mental health social work should be” – why Durham chose to partner with Think Ahead
Each year Think Ahead partners with NHS Trusts and Local Authorities across England to deliver high-quality social work training for our participants, and to support local services to realise the impact that social interventions can have on people with mental health problems. One of these partners is Durham County Council, which has hosted units of […]
- 23 Nov / 17News
“The participants have been a brilliant addition” – managers share their views on partnering with Think Ahead
At Think Ahead we are committed to evaluating our impact, to understand both how well we are doing and how we can be even better. We’ve commissioned an independent evaluation of our programme, and we’ve set up internal processes to regularly gather information and opinions from people involved with Think Ahead. We can now share […]