-
28 Aug / 24Expert insight
Mental health and work: improving support
Over the last year, we have been working to support the recruitment of employment specialists who work in dedicated services to help people with severe mental health problems to find employment. We’ve been working in partnership with not for profit Social Finance to support these services – called Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services – […]
-
26 Jun / 24Expert insight
General Election manifesto response
The General Election is a week away. At Think Ahead, we believe that transforming the mental health workforce is key to tackling the mental health crisis. In November last year, we published our own manifesto ‘Workforce Matters’, based on research with our trainee social workers, people with lived experience of services, operational leaders in the […]
-
14 Jun / 24Expert insight
Strengthening drug and alcohol services
Alexia Fenwick, our Professional Development Lead, responds to the publication of the first-ever national strategic workforce plan for the drug and alcohol treatment and recovery sector. We were pleased to see the government’s new 10-year plan to strengthen the drug and alcohol workforce and improve services for the people using them. Recognition of […]
-
22 Apr / 24Expert insight
Opening the conversation: substance use
We are pleased to have launched new substance use training for qualified social workers supporting people living with mental health and substance use issues. Our first training has now been successfully been delivered with great results: 100% of participants reporting the training course has influenced their professional development. Participants finishing eight times more likely to […]
-
29 Nov / 23Expert insight
Calling for investment in the workforce
We have published our first Think Ahead manifesto, calling for urgent transformation of the mental health workforce. Workforce Matters: A Manifesto, shares the often challenging reality of life on the frontline and impact the ongoing workforce crisis is having on people’s care. Developed with mental health practitioners across the NHS and social care sector, and […]
-
7 Mar / 23Expert insight
Time for change
New CEO Philippa Mariani shares reflections on her first 100 days and the priorities as she sees them for the future. When you’re struggling with your mental health, a lot of things can feel daunting; the people who help us navigate those challenges really matter to our wellbeing, to whether we feel listened to and […]
-
9 May / 22Expert insight
How does loneliness impact mental health?
The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is loneliness. Here Think Ahead’s Practice Specialists, our in-house senior social workers, share their thoughts on the real life implications of isolation on mental health, and how we can better support people to connect with creative and innovative solutions. Adella When I worked in and managed […]
-
9 Mar / 21Expert insight
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 […]
-
4 Sep / 17Expert insight
“I really enjoy getting up in the morning and going to work” – watch Think Ahead participant Maisie discuss her work
Last July our first intake of talented graduates and career-changers began training as mental health social workers on the Think Ahead programme. One of these was Maisie Satchwell-Hirst, an Oxford graduate, who joined a community mental health service in Cambridgeshire. In the film below Maisie talks about her experiences in her unit, led by experienced […]
-
11 Nov / 16Expert insight
Film: “I really enjoy learning about people’s stories”
Deborah Waller was working in science communication when she heard about the Think Ahead programme. She graduated from UCL in 2011 with a degree in Human Science, but last year decided to look into changing career. Deborah said: “My focus was brought to mental health whenever it came up so I thought, this is something […]
-
1 Nov / 16Expert insight
Film: “I wanted to do something that helped others”
Al Tooms was studying English Literature at the University of Lancaster when he came across Think Ahead. Al was looking for a graduate programme that would lead him into a rewarding career, having previously done some volunteering with young people with mental health problems. After finding out more about what mental health social workers do, […]
-
25 Oct / 16Expert insight
“This is the place to come if you want to change the world”
We spoke to Paul Farmer, CEO of Mind, about the challenges in mental health and the value of social workers. What made you want to work in mental health? I started to see the importance of mental health at a personal level when I was young – a member of my family had mental health […]
