“Lift your head up and see how you can make wider changes” – New participants embark on their journey
This week marked the beginning of an exciting time for Think Ahead and the 103 participants in our third intake as they embarked on their two-year journey to become mental health social workers. Participants are today completing the first week of the Summer Institute, a six-week residential learning experience which gives them a grounding in […]
- 9 Jul / 18In the media
“Mental health is at the crux of people’s quality of life and how happy they can be” – Think Ahead participant speaks to The Guardian
Think Ahead participant Alex has spoken to The Guardian newspaper about how he came to train as a social worker with Think Ahead and how he’s finding the role. Originally Alex thought that after his degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from the University of Oxford he would end up working in policy. “I […]
- 21 Jun / 18News
Think Ahead announces Middlesex University as new academic partner
Following our recent call for applications from academic institutions, we are pleased to announce that we are working with Middlesex University on a plan for them to deliver the academic elements of the Think Ahead programme for our intakes in 2019 and 2020. We received very strong proposals from a range of institutions, demonstrating the […]
- 13 Jun / 18News
New opportunities to work with Think Ahead as a Recruitment Ambassador or Intern
We are delighted to announce two exciting new opportunities to work with us to help us raise awareness of the Think Ahead programme, and of mental health social work. These paid roles are ideal for students or other highly-motivated individuals with a passion for mental health, who are looking to build their CV, gain experience and […]
- 6 Jun / 18Features
“Think Ahead participants bring innovative research to our meetings and have so much energy and enthusiasm – it’s inspiring!”
Kirsty Shires is a Consultant Social Worker on the Think Ahead programme. In her role, she supervises a unit of four Think Ahead participants who are placed within a community mental health team. She and the unit members manage a shared caseload together. Here, Kirsty explains how being a Consultant Social Worker has reignited her […]
- 21 May / 18News
“It’s such a privilege when people open up to you” – participants share their experiences with new Think Ahead recruits
The launch event for Think Ahead’s third intake took place on Saturday (19 May). New recruits, who will begin the programme in July this year, came together for the first time to learn more about the role of a mental health social worker, and to start preparing for the programme. The day featured a number […]
- 10 Apr / 18News
New places available to join the Think Ahead programme in 2018
Update: Applications for these new places have now closed. Applications to join Think Ahead in 2019 will open in autumn 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 […]
- 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 […]