Supporting the approved mental health professional network
We are delighted to be supporting the approved mental health professional network. In partnership with PCH (which is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care) we are working with five local authorities, we are embedding the National Service Standards to improve service delivery for people. Alexia Fenwick, Professional Development Lead explains: “Approved mental health […]
-
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 […]
-
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 […]
-
24 Oct / 23
Contract extended to bolster mental health social work
The Department of Health and Social Care has extended Think Ahead’s contract to recruit and train 320 mental health social workers by 2027. The funding will be used to recruit 160 graduate trainees in 2024 and again in 2025. Think Ahead is a national programme which attracts thousands of people every year to a career […]
-
16 Oct / 23News
Join the mental health mission: apply today
Applications for 2024 entry to our mental health social work programme are now open. With Think Ahead, you could be paid to train as a mental health social worker and support people with mental health needs. Joining the programme you will: Gain a fully-funded postgraduate diploma and master’s degree in social work. Be an advocate […]
-
22 Aug / 23In the media
Finalists in Social Work Awards 2023
We are delighted that three current and former Think Ahead trainees and one of the programme’s academic tutors are finalists in the Social Work Awards 2023. Karla Coppendale (2022 cohort), James Hussain (2021 cohort), Eleanor Hinchcliffe (2017 cohort) and David Bulmer (Senior Lecturer in Social Work for Middlesex University) have each been nominated and announced […]
-
18 Aug / 23News
2022 Cohort finish their first year
Congratulations to our 2022 cohort for completing their first year of our mental health social work programme. From music teachers to journalists our 2022 trainees came from a broad range of backgrounds and started their social work journey in July 2022 with a five-week summer institute. Over the past year they have studied for a […]