Applications to join the Think Ahead programme in 2019 now open
We are delighted to announce that applications to join Think Ahead in 2019 are now open. We’re looking for talented graduates and career-changers who would like to enter a profession that’s both rewarding and challenging, and who want to support people with mental health problems to lead more fulfilling lives. On our two-year programme in […]
- 12 Dec / 18News
FILM: “It’s everything I want to do in my future career” – Participants share their learnings from the Think Ahead Summer Institute
Each year our new intake of around 100 aspiring mental health social workers start their journey at a six-week residential – the Think Ahead Summer Institute. It’s a great opportunity for them to get to know each other and learn the basics of mental health social work in an exciting and supportive environment, before taking […]
- 5 Dec / 18News
Think Ahead announces new chair for its Service User and Carer Reference Group
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Oliver Wood as the new independent chair of our Service User and Carer Reference Group. Our Service User and Carer Reference Group is a key part of the Think Ahead programme – it was established in 2014, and its aim is to ensure that the needs of […]
- 26 Nov / 18News
Minister meets Think Ahead participants
The Minister of State for Care, Caroline Dinenage MP, today visited Think Ahead participants working as mental health social workers. The Minister was able to hear first-hand about the impact of social work in mental health services, and the difference our participants are making in their work with people with severe and enduring mental health […]
- 10 Oct / 18Features
“Benji has encouraged me to focus on my future and my goals. He’s re-ignited the fire I had” – Benji and Roderick’s story
This World Mental Health Day, we want to highlight the vital role that social workers play in supporting people with mental health problems. Social issues such as problems with relationships, living arrangements and employment have profound effects on mental wellbeing, and social workers are uniquely able to help people to address the social factors in […]
- 9 Oct / 18In the media
“I wanted to change career to a role working with vulnerable people” – Think Ahead featured in the Evening Standard
Think Ahead participant Levi (pictured above) has been interviewed in the Evening Standard newspaper about why she chose to train to be a mental health social worker. 24-year-old Levi joined the Think Ahead programme in 2016, and is now one of our alumni. Before joining the programme she worked in recruitment for a pharmaceutical company. […]
- 3 Oct / 18In the media
“I’m not sure if I would have ended up doing social work if it wasn’t for Think Ahead” – participants speak to Community Care
Think Ahead participants Sonya and Alex, and our Co-Chief Executive Natalie, have spoken to Community Care, a leading social work news website, about the Think Ahead programme. Community Care carried out the interviews to mark our first cohort completing the two-year programme. Sonya Chee (pictured above), who works in an Early Intervention in Psychosis team […]
- 28 Sep / 18In the media
“It’s a real privilege to be allowed into people’s lives […] It lets us work in a holistic way and actually make a difference.” – participants interviewed in the Guardian
Think Ahead participants Maisie, Levi and Alec have spoken to the Guardian about their experiences working as mental health social workers. All three were members of our first cohort – who completed the two-year Think Ahead programme at the end of September. Maisie Satchwell-Hirst (pictured above) is a 23-year-old Cambridge graduate, who works with service […]
- 19 Sep / 18News
Think Ahead climbs 20 places in Times Top 100 Graduate Employers list
We are pleased to announce that Think Ahead has been placed at number 42 in this year’s Times Top 100 Graduate Employers list, up from number 62 in 2017. We are also the only dedicated mental health employer among the top 100 for the second year running. The list is based on interviews with over […]
- 13 Sep / 18News
“It’s one of the most important and rewarding professions you can do” – Chair of Social Work England congratulates Think Ahead’s first cohort on their achievements
Think Ahead officially launched its alumni network at an event on Monday night, ahead of the first cohort of participants completing the programme at the end of the month. After two years of rigorous academic training and on-the-job learning, Think Ahead’s first cohort had the opportunity to celebrate their achievements so far and look to […]
- 4 Sep / 18In the media
“Social work is the missing piece of the mental health puzzle” – Co-Chief Executive interviewed by Professional Social Work magazine
Think Ahead’s Co-Chief Executive Natalie Acton has been interviewed by Professional Social Work, a magazine published by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW). Natalie highlighted the importance of achieving greater recognition of the value social work can bring to mental health. She said that while attempts to tackle the UK’s mental health challenge have primarily […]
- 20 Jul / 18News
“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 […]