At Think Ahead, we want to see a society where everyone with mental health problems can flourish.
That won’t happen unless people can improve their social circumstances – because life issues like relationships, living arrangements, and employment have profound effects on mental wellbeing.
The Think Ahead programme is a new route into mental health social work, for graduates and career-changers remarkable enough to make a real difference to people with mental health problems. Our two-year graduate programme combines on-the-job learning, a master’s degree, and leadership training, all of which help our participants to become great social workers, strengthen mental health services, and spread social approaches to mental health across society.
As a mental health social worker, you will empower individuals with mental illness—and their families, carers, and communities—to lead fulfilling, independent lives. Through talking therapy, support, and advocacy, they enable people to manage the social factors in their lives—like relationships, housing, and employment—that allow them to get well and stay well. Building resilience in individuals, their networks, and their communities transforms people’s wellbeing and improves our society and economy.
When you complete the two year programme, you will become part of the Think Ahead alumni network. Most people choose to stay in the social work profession, but there will be a number of career options available to you including becoming a leading frontline practitioner, moving into service leadership, or using your leadership experience in an alternative career.
Some 10% of the participants in the 2020 cohort of the Think Ahead programme declared that they had a mental or physical health condition.
We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We aim for diversity within each of our cohorts, as we think it’s important that the social work workforce represents the people it serves. We welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds, including disabled candidates, Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates, LGBTQ+ as well as non-binary candidates, and those with experience of mental health problems.
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Graduate Opportunities
Our two-year graduate programme combines on-the-job learning, a master’s degree, and leadership training, all of which help our participants to become great social workers, strengthen mental health services, and spread social approaches to mental health across society.
On Think Ahead’s paid two-year programme, you will:
Think Ahead is a highly selective programme. While you need no prior experience of social work to apply, our criteria states that you must:
For more information please visit our website:
We are looking for exceptional individuals who have the potential to become excellent mental health social workers and go on to lead change in their fields.
You don’t need any prior experience of social work, but you will need to demonstrate that you have the attributes necessary to excel on the Think Ahead programme and beyond.
To be successful, you will need to demonstrate all of these attributes:
Leadership
The ability to act as a professional role model, demonstrate initiative, and engage others and enable them to achieve their goals.
Motivation
Personal commitment to transforming the lives of people with mental illness, with an understanding of the positive impact of social work and the Think Ahead mission.
Adaptability
Resilience and flexibility in changing circumstances, with the ability to work under pressure and deal with uncertain or unexpected outcomes.
Relationship-building
Empathy and respect for all individuals, with the ability to build relationships and understand people’s motives and perspectives.
Communication
The ability to collaborate with and influence a wide range of people, in person and through written communication.
Problem-solving
The ability to objectively analyse situations, using evidence and clear judgement to generate effective solutions.
Self-awareness
The ability to understand, and reflect critically on, both your own personal development and how your actions affect others.
We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, and you can declare disabilities at application stage. If you have a disability, we will contact you in advance of the assessment centre and do our best to make any adjustments to the assessment process. Just some examples of adjustments we offer include:
If you have any further queries or would like to discuss your individual circumstances, please email recruitment@thinkahead.org
Think Ahead and Middlesex University provide a diverse range of support services and resources for participants throughout every stage of the programme to enhance their learning experience and development – this includes:
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