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13 Dec / 17In the media
“Exciting, a little bit scary” – participants catch up with Radio 4 about their Think Ahead journey
A year ago BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind began a series of interviews with two members of Think Ahead’s 2016 intake – Charlotte Seymour and Alec Tooms. At that point Charlotte and Alec were at the beginning of their journey into mental health social work; a year on they are over half way […]
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20 Oct / 17In the media
“I knew mental health social work was challenging, stimulating and varied” – BBC interviews Think Ahead participant
A Think Ahead participant has shared her story of how experiencing mental health problems inspired her to become a mental health social worker. Catherine, who started the Think Ahead programme in July 2017, had depression while she was studying at Manchester University. At times she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to finish her degree, […]
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14 Jun / 17In the media
Radio 4’s All in the Mind follows participant Al on the job
BBC Radio 4 programme All in the Mind has spent a day following Think Ahead participant Al Tooms – giving a rare insight into the complex role of a mental health social worker. To hear the full programme you can visit the the BBC website. Or you can listen to Al’s segment here: During the piece, Al […]
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24 May / 17In the media
Radio 4’s All in the Mind follows participant Charlotte on the job
Radio 4 programme All in the Mind has spent a day following Think Ahead participant Charlotte Seymour in her role training to be a mental health social worker – getting a unique insight into the kind of work she does supporting people with mental health problems. To hear the full programme you can visit the […]
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21 Mar / 17In the media
Think Ahead research finds vital role of mental health social workers is misunderstood
At Think Ahead we recognise that mental health social workers play a crucial role in society, providing a lifeline for some of the most vulnerable people in the country. They’re the professionals who are able to work holistically with people with mental health problems, providing support with life issues like relationships, finances, living arrangements and […]
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7 Dec / 16In the media
2016 participants speak to Radio 4’s All in the Mind
Two of our 2016 participants have spoken to BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind about their motivations for joining the Think Ahead programme and the work they have been doing in their community mental health teams since September. I feel incredibly challenged, I feel inspired, I feel that this is the right place for […]
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11 Oct / 16Expert insight
“Social work is therapeutic input at its best”
Alivia Bray, a Think Ahead participant, has written about her experiences in her first few weeks of on-the-job training to be a mental health social worker. In a piece written for the Guardian, Alivia has reflected on her first few weeks working in a community mental health team, which she joined in September. She writes: “I […]
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7 Oct / 16In the media
“Why I’m backing Think Ahead”
John Short, chief executive of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, has written about why he jumped at the chance to partner with Think Ahead. Here’s the article in full, which first appeared on Community Care. When I started my career in 1983, I never expected to take the management route, and certainly never […]
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2 Sep / 16In the media
Think Ahead featured on BBC Radio 4
Think Ahead has been featured on BBC Radio 4’s PM programme. Reporter Andrew Bomford visited our Summer Institute, to interview some of our participants and record them practising their skills as they prepare to begin their on-the-job training next week. Participant Ben Roderick told the BBC: “I was looking at what people might see as more conventional career paths […]
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17 Aug / 16In the media
“When I shadowed social workers, I saw how they fight for people”
A Think Ahead participant has shared their reflections on a day they spent shadowing a mental health social worker before they joined the programme. In an anonymous piece published on Guardian Social Care, the participant follows a social worker on visits to two service users. Although some of the interactions witnessed were challenging, the participant reflects: “Often […]
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16 Aug / 16In the media
“There’s a real opportunity for change here” – Community Care visits the Summer Institute
Community Care’s Rachel Carter spent 48 hours at Devonshire Hall in Leeds at the start of our Summer Institute. During her time she heard speeches from key figures in social work including Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker for Adults, and Ruth Allen, Chief Executive of British Association of Social Workers. Martin Webber, Think Ahead’s Academic […]
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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 […]
