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30 Apr / 19News
Independent evaluation of the Think Ahead programme draws positive conclusions
Durham University and the University of Bristol have today published their independent evaluation of the Think Ahead programme, containing a raft of positive findings and concluding that the programme is “worthy of continued support and further development”. The evaluation followed the first cohort of Think Ahead participants, who completed our two-year programme in September 2018, […]
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11 Apr / 19News
“It has strengthened social work’s role in community mental health team transformation” – Impact Update 2019 published
Our first cohort of participants, who joined Think Ahead in 2016, completed the programme in September 2018. [Partnering with Think Ahead has] made the Board more aware of social work, heightened the profile of social work, and strengthened social work’s role in community mental health team transformation. Service manager from 2018 partner organisation Six months […]
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12 Dec / 18News
FILM: “It’s everything I want to do in my future career” – Participants share their learnings from the Think Ahead Summer Institute
Each year our new intake of around 100 aspiring mental health social workers start their journey at a six-week residential – the Think Ahead Summer Institute. It’s a great opportunity for them to get to know each other and learn the basics of mental health social work in an exciting and supportive environment, before taking […]
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5 Dec / 18News
New Lived Experience Partnership Chair appointed
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Oliver Wood as the new independent chair of our Lived Experience Partnership. Established in 2014, the Lived Experience Partnership ensures the needs of service users and carers are represented in everything we do. The group has been involved in shaping many aspects of our flagship training programme […]
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26 Nov / 18News
Minister meets Think Ahead participants
The Minister of State for Care, Caroline Dinenage MP, today visited Think Ahead participants working as mental health social workers. The Minister was able to hear first-hand about the impact of social work in mental health services, and the difference our participants are making in their work with people with severe and enduring mental health […]
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25 Sep / 18News
Applications to join the Think Ahead programme in 2019 now open
Update: Applications to join the Think Ahead programme in 2019 are now closed. Applications to join Think Ahead in 2020 will open in autumn 2019. We are delighted to announce that applications to join Think Ahead in 2019 are now open. We’re looking for talented graduates and career-changers who would like to enter a profession […]
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19 Sep / 18News
Think Ahead climbs 20 places in Times Top 100 Graduate Employers list
We are pleased to announce that Think Ahead has been placed at number 42 in this year’s Times Top 100 Graduate Employers list, up from number 62 in 2017. We are also the only dedicated mental health employer among the top 100 for the second year running. The list is based on interviews with over […]
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13 Sep / 18News
“It’s one of the most important and rewarding professions you can do” – Chair of Social Work England congratulates Think Ahead’s first cohort on their achievements
Think Ahead officially launched its alumni network at an event on Monday night, ahead of the first cohort of participants completing the programme at the end of the month. After two years of rigorous academic training and on-the-job learning, Think Ahead’s first cohort had the opportunity to celebrate their achievements so far and look to […]
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4 Sep / 18In the media
“Social work is the missing piece of the mental health puzzle” – Co-Chief Executive interviewed by Professional Social Work magazine
Think Ahead’s Co-Chief Executive Natalie Acton has been interviewed by Professional Social Work, a magazine published by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW). Natalie highlighted the importance of achieving greater recognition of the value social work can bring to mental health. She said that while attempts to tackle the UK’s mental health challenge have primarily […]
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20 Jul / 18News
“Lift your head up and see how you can make wider changes” – New participants embark on their journey
This week marked the beginning of an exciting time for Think Ahead and the 103 participants in our third intake as they embarked on their two-year journey to become mental health social workers. Participants are today completing the first week of the Summer Institute, a six-week residential learning experience which gives them a grounding in […]
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21 Jun / 18News
Think Ahead announces Middlesex University as new academic partner
Following our recent call for applications from academic institutions, we are pleased to announce that we are working with Middlesex University on a plan for them to deliver the academic elements of the Think Ahead programme for our intakes in 2019 and 2020. We received very strong proposals from a range of institutions, demonstrating the […]
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21 May / 18News
“It’s such a privilege when people open up to you” – participants share their experiences with new Think Ahead recruits
The launch event for Think Ahead’s third intake took place on Saturday (19 May). New recruits, who will begin the programme in July this year, came together for the first time to learn more about the role of a mental health social worker, and to start preparing for the programme. The day featured a number […]
