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  • 27 Jan / 17
    News

    Opportunities with Think Ahead in 2017 – application dates announced

    We can today announce the opening date for applications to join the Think Ahead graduate programme in 2018, and for two additional opportunities for students and graduates to work with us this year. Apply this year to join the Think Ahead programme in 2018 Applications to join our third intake, beginning the programme in July […]

  • 9 Jan / 17
    News

    Prime Minister backs Think Ahead in major speech

    The Prime Minister Theresa May has highlighted the importance of Think Ahead, in a major speech today in which she set out her plans to “transform the way we deal with mental health problems, right across society and at every stage of life”. As part of her approach, the Prime Minister said that she wants […]

  • 9 Jan / 17
    News

    Breaking new ground in 2017

    Chief Executive Ella Joseph is looking forward to seeing the first qualified social workers trained by Think Ahead enter the mental health workforce. 2016 was a big year for our charity. When Natalie Acton and I founded Think Ahead in 2014 we were driven by our certainty that people’s social circumstances – their relationships, support […]

  • 9 Nov / 16
    News

    Independent evaluation of Think Ahead begins

    As part of our aim to build evaluation into how the Think Ahead programme works, earlier this year we invited proposals from external partners to carry out an independent assessment of our impact. We received lots of exciting offers, and we’re delighted to now be working with a team from the Universities of Durham and […]

  • 10 Oct / 16
    Features

    World Mental Health Day: Social work and mental health first aid

    It’s World Mental Health Day, and this year’s theme includes Psychological and Mental Health First Aid, bringing to light the importance of supporting people through mental health crises. For thousands of people who experience a mental health crisis each year, their lifeline isn’t a paramedic or a psychiatrist – it’s their social worker who answers […]

  • 12 Sep / 16
    News

    Film: Could you be a mental health social worker?

    Our new film, released today, invites you to step into the shoes of a mental health social worker and hear three stories – of the challenges you might face, and the impact you could achieve. The stories, which are portrayed by actors, are based on input from people who use mental health services and from […]

  • 5 Sep / 16
    News

    Applications open to join Think Ahead in 2017

    Applications are now open to join the Think Ahead programme in July 2017! If you want a graduate job that’s both rewarding and demanding, and you’re motivated to do something about the mental health challenge, from today you can apply to start your leadership career with Think Ahead. On our two-year programme you’ll be paid to work […]

  • 30 Aug / 16
    Features

    “Sharing our experiences in order to do something positive” – Summer Institute 2016 comes to an end

    Today Think Ahead’s inaugural Summer Institute ends. Our first cohort of participants are readying themselves to move into community mental health teams for 12 months of on-the-job learning starting in September, and this week’s teaching has included a focus on preparing for entering the workplace. My favourite thing about the Summer Institute has been bringing […]

  • 19 Aug / 16
    Features

    Ensuring social work perspectives are valued: week five at the Summer Institute

    It’s the penultimate week at the Summer Institute, and communication has played a big part in this week’s learning. Communication skills are hugely important for social workers in many elements of their job. Of course, being able to build relationships with service users is crucial – as Frances Turner, an experienced mental health social worker […]

  • 12 Aug / 16
    Features

    Eco-maps and safety assessments: inside week four at Think Ahead’s Summer Institute

    This week at the Summer Institute risk assessments – or rather ‘safety assessments’ – took centre stage. Participants spent a day exploring how to assess the level of protection from harm that a person with mental health problems might require, through a mixture of teaching sessions and group work. These sessions included looking at some […]

  • 5 Aug / 16
    Features

    Developing leadership skills at the Summer Institute

    We’re half way through our 2016 Summer Institute, and this week our participants have been learning about leadership. Leadership is an important part of the Think Ahead curriculum, because mental health social workers need the ability to make difficult judgement calls and influence others. During this week’s teaching, participants took the Myers Briggs Personality Indicator […]

  • 29 Jul / 16
    Features

    “Human rights are often deep at the heart of important social work decisions”

    Our 96 participants have now completed the second week of their Summer Institute. This week they learnt about some of the legal and ethical aspects of social work, including a strong focus on human rights and liberty. These issues have a real impact on social work practice day-to-day, because social workers have to make tough […]