Become a mental health social worker: apply today
Applications for our 2025 entry to our mental health social work programme are now open. Gain a fully-funded postgraduate diploma and master’s degree in social work. Be an advocate for local people in your community with mental health problems. Earn as you learn with dedicated support from experienced social workers and academic tutors. Start a […]
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22 Jul / 16Expert insight
Week one at the Summer Institute
Today marks the end of week one of Think Ahead’s Summer Institute – the six-week residential where our participants receive an intensive grounding in mental health social work, before they start training on-the-job in community mental health teams in September. Throughout this first week, participants have had an introduction to social work and mental health […]
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19 Jul / 16News
“You’re bringing a great passion into social work” – Chief Social Worker
Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker for Adults, gave her support for Think Ahead at the Opening Ceremony for our Summer Institute last night, telling our participants and supporters: “You’re bringing a great passion into social work.” Don’t underestimate the impact you can have as a mental health social worker. John Short, Chief Executive of Birmingham and Solihull […]
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18 Jul / 16News
Think Ahead Summer Institute begins
Today marks the beginning of our first ever Summer Institute – a major milestone for Think Ahead. The 96 talented graduates and career-changers that make up our first cohort are now together in Leeds, ready to begin six weeks of intensive learning in mental health social work. The teaching is being delivered in partnership with […]
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24 Jun / 16In the media
“I feel I am being listened to and helping to make a real impact within mental health”
Ziaul, a member of our Service User and Carer Reference Group, has written a blog post about his involvement in shaping the Think Ahead programme. Here’s the piece in full, which first appeared on the Social Care Institute for Excellence’s co-production blog. For about a year I’ve been involved with Think Ahead, the charity running a […]
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19 May / 16In the media
Chief Social Worker highlights Think Ahead’s impact
Chief Social Worker for Adults, Lyn Romeo, has written about the important role of social work in mental health services, and how Think Ahead can benefit the profession. Think Ahead generated huge interest and media coverage during its first call for applications, and its promotional film encouraged people to consider careers in mental health social work. Lyn […]
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16 May / 16News
Think Ahead’s host organisations announced
We can today announce the innovative community mental health services that will partner with us to pioneer our new approach to improving support for people with mental illness. The organisations are spread across England, with six in London, four in the South East, four in the Midlands, one in Yorkshire, and one in the North […]
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27 Apr / 16In the media
“Think Ahead is an opportunity to influence the future of mental health social work”
Martin Webber, Professor of Social Work at the University of York and academic lead for the Think Ahead programme, has written a piece for Community Care about why he’s excited to be part of Think Ahead. Here’s the article in full, which first appeared on Community Care. Last year I led a team from […]
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22 Apr / 16News
BASW Chief Executive welcomes Think Ahead participants
Last Saturday, 16 April, represented a landmark moment for Think Ahead, with our 2016 participants gathering together for the first time at our Cohort Launch Event. In addition to meeting their fellow participants and our experienced Consultant Social Workers, the cohort heard from Ruth Allen – a Think Ahead board member and the newly appointed […]
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26 Mar / 16In the media
BBC features Think Ahead’s future plans
Think Ahead has been featured across the BBC today, with our Joint Chief Executive Natalie Acton appearing on BBC Breakfast television, BBC Radio 5 Live, and BBC West Midlands. BBC Breakfast also included interviews with Jack Buckler, who is set to join the Think Ahead programme this summer, and Lee Brookes, who has used his lived […]
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16 Mar / 16In the media
Think Ahead featured in the Guardian
To mark World Social Work Day 2016, the Guardian have published a supplement to their main paper titled ‘Social work at the frontline’ including a number of stories about the crucial role social workers play around the world. It includes a double-page spread on Think Ahead’s work to strengthen mental health social work. The piece includes […]
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15 Feb / 16In the media
Think Ahead participant’s diary featured in the Guardian
A Think Ahead participant, who is due to start the programme this summer, has shared a week-long diary with the Guardian detailing their volunteering with young carers. The piece, which is part of the Guardian’s series of “secret diaries” from people working in health, shares the author’s work as a mentor to young people who […]
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29 Jan / 16News
Partner sought to help evaluate Think Ahead’s impact
We want the Think Ahead movement to have a transformational effect on mental health, improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities. So it’s crucial that we measure our impact, to understand whether we’re achieving our goals. Our impact will come in a variety of different ways. We aim to bring exceptional people into mental […]