News about Think Ahead’s future funding
We’re sad to share news that the Department of Health and Social Care has decided not to continue funding the Think Ahead programme for the 2026 Cohort and beyond. Our 2025 Cohort – due to start this summer – will go ahead as planned. We are extremely disappointed with this decision. The Think Ahead programme […]
-
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 – […]
-
23 Aug / 24News
Alumni recognised in Social Work Awards
We are delighted to share that two former Think Ahead trainees are finalists in the Social Work Awards 2024. Hannah Kingsford and Emma Crowe have both been announced as finalists in their two categories. Emma Crowe – Mental Health Social Worker of the Year Finalist Emma joined our programme in 2019, after volunteering for listening […]
-
15 Aug / 24News
2024 trainees preparing for placement
As this year’s Summer Institute draws to a close, our 2024 trainees have passed the first programme milestone to becoming mental health social workers. The five-week intensive learning experience has laid the groundwork for their placements at NHS trusts and local authorities, beginning later this month. Blending online and lecture-based learning, with workshops and practical […]
-
1 Aug / 24News
Welcoming our new trustees
Think Ahead is delighted to welcome three new trustees, appointing Aparajita ‘Aps’ Ajit, Peter Molyneux and Liam Sloan to its Board. The organisation believes that a thriving mental health workforce is key to ensuring every person can live the life they want. It was founded in 2014, to deliver an accelerated recruitment and training programme […]
-
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 a 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 […]
-
12 Apr / 24
Building a workforce fit for the future
We are proud contributors to the briefing published this week: Building a mental health workforce fit for the future. Here CEO Philippa Mariani shares her reflections on the importance of the piece. It was a privilege to be in the room with sector partners at the national workforce roundtable co-hosted by Centre for Mental Health, […]
-
29 Mar / 24
Social Work Week 2024
Social Work Week offers a chance to celebrate social workers and advocate for the value of social work across society. Hosted by regulator Social Work England, this year’s week had three key themes to: Learn: sharing the breadth of good practice from a diverse profession Connect: lived, learned and professional experiences – creating opportunities for […]
-
16 Jan / 24News
2023 Impact Report
We’re pleased to share our Impact Report evaluating our work over the last year. Our vision is simple: a thriving mental health workforce, empowered to support people to live the life they want and deserve. From our mental health social work programme, to our advocacy work across the sector, we work to ensure people living […]
-
4 Jan / 24
Chair of our Board awarded Grand Cross
We are delighted that Professor Dame Carol Black has been awarded in the New Year Honours List 2024 a Dame Grand Cross in the Order of the British Empire (GBE) for public service. A rare honour, the Grand Cross is the highest rank in the Order and recognises Dame Carol’s transformational work, following her damehood (DBE) […]
-
18 Dec / 23News
Rising Star Award Winner
We’re delighted to congratulate Amy Allott-Thomas, one of our alumni, for winning the “Rising Star” award in Bradford Council’s Service Excellence Awards. Open to anyone working for the council, the award recognises the potential of someone in the first five years of their career with a commitment to making change happen. Amy was in the […]