- 26 Mar / 21News
Think Ahead’s first conference – Mental health social work in 2021
We were delighted to be joined by over 350 delegates this week at our first ever conference, Think Ahead presents: Mental health social work in 2021. The event offered a rare opportunity to focus on the vital role frontline mental health social workers play in driving and responding to change. Our broad range of speakers brought a wealth of knowledge […]
- 9 Mar / 21Features
What is Social Work?
It is Social Work Week in England. A chance to celebrate the invaluable contribution social workers are making to people’s lives every day. But what does “social work” actually mean? There is no short answer. Or perhaps there is; it is about life and levelling the playing field of life. Enabling people to push past their […]
- 18 Jan / 21News
How we’re responding to the coronavirus
This web page was last updated on 18 January 2021. We will continue to update the page whenever we have new information. We are monitoring the coronavirus situation, and the third national lockdown, closely, and are ensuring that our policies and plans are in line with the best available evidence and the government’s advice. Our […]
- 27 Nov / 20News
Mental health social work is “so much more than the health silo” – Shadow Mental Health Minister meets Think Ahead community
We were delighted to welcome Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP, Shadow Mental Health Minister, to an online event this week with our current trainees and alumni of the programme. Part of an ongoing series of events with leading figures in mental health and social work, the interactive session tackled a range of issues mental health social […]
- 18 Nov / 20News
The frontline reality of mental health services during Covid – as featured in The Metro
With their support arguably needed now more than ever, mental health social workers are on the frontline in this pandemic. Like all of us, they’re doing what they can to limit face-to-face contact, but that’s not always possible when you’re working with someone who has a severe mental health problem. One of our past participants, Thea Radburn, wrote a piece for The Metro […]
- 20 Oct / 20News
“This profession is about making a difference and each and every one of you has done that”- Think Ahead’s 2018 Cohort join our alumni network
We were delighted to welcome another cohort of participants into our alumni network at a virtual ceremony on Monday 19 October. After spending the last two years training and working as mental health social workers, participants from our 2018 Cohort looked back on their experiences, as they became members of Think Ahead’s alumni network, joining […]
- 29 Sep / 20News
Applications are open to join the Think Ahead programme in 2021
Update: Applications to join the Think Ahead programme in 2021 are now closed. If you are a talented graduate or career-changer, remarkable enough to make a real difference in tackling the UK’s mental health challenge, the Think Ahead programme could be for you. On our paid, two-year programme, you’ll work to build relationships with adults living with mental health problems, empowering […]
- 29 Sep / 20News
Government provides up to £27m to expand Think Ahead programme
The Department of Health and Social Care has today announced that it has awarded Think Ahead up to £27m, to fund at least two further cohorts of the Think Ahead graduate programme each providing 160 places per year – a 60% increase in the annual intake. Our programme offers talented graduates and career-changers a paid […]
- 23 Sep / 20News
Think Ahead voted a top 40 graduate employer for second year running
We are delighted to announce that Think Ahead has once again been voted into the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers list, ranked at number 40. This is our fourth appearance in the list, and the second year running that we have been in the top 40. The list, which was published today, was created based on interviews […]
- 12 Aug / 20News
“You’re coming into working in mental health at an incredibly exciting, and also challenging, time.” – Summer Institute 2020 comes to an end
The Summer Institute for our 2020 Cohort finished at the end of last week – following three weeks of teaching to introduce our trainees to mental health social work and social interventions, and to prepare them for joining frontline services. This group of just over 100 participants are the fifth cohort to join the Think […]
- 15 Jul / 20In the media
Report: Public knowledge and perceptions of careers in mental health
We have today released new research showing that, while many people might be interested in working in mental health, there are widespread misunderstandings about careers in the field. All employers in the mental health workforce need to work together to bust some of these myths and raise awareness of how accessible and rewarding careers in mental health can be. Ella Joseph, Chief Executive […]
- 5 Jun / 20News
Black Lives Matter
Like many, many others, all of us at Think Ahead have been deeply distressed by the murder of George Floyd and the events that have followed it. We have been taking the time to reflect, listen, and learn before adding anything to the discussion. Racism is entrenched in our society and has a destructive impact […]
