Think Ahead

Mental health social workers work with people to bring out their strengths, connect with communities and access peer support - all of which can help tackle loneliness.

#MentalHealthSocialWork #SocialWorkMatters

Social isolation can affect anyone, especially people living with mental health needs.

Sarah, our Involvement Lead, shares how important peer support and access to community can be for people living with mental health problems.

📣We’re hiring!

We are looking for a passionate and experienced social worker to join us as a Practice Specialist, helping to shape the next generation of mental health social workers. https://thinkahead.org/workwithus/opportunities-at-head-office/

#SocialWorkJobs #MentalHealth #CharityJobs

NHS figures show one in ten mental health patients wait over 24 hours in A&E – a crisis we cannot accept.

Support must meet people’s needs closer to home, taking into account housing, finances, relationships, and community.

Mental health social workers are a crucial part of making this happen.

📣We’re hiring! Join us as as our new Communications Officer.

If you have a passion for storytelling, digital communications & using your creativity for social impact, we would love to hear from you: https://thinkahead.org/workwithus/opportunities-at-head-office/

#CharityJobs #CommunicationJobs

“I want to really build on the skills that I’ve developed so far and use them to empower me to be able to make that difference in people’s lives.”

Ben was previously working as a support worker and has joined our programme this year to retrain as a mental health social worker.

We’re urging the government to fully recognise the value of mental health social workers by including them in the upcoming NHS workforce plan.

#MentalHealthSocialWork #SocialWorkMatters

The support of a mental health social worker can be transformational in a person’s recovery.

They help people navigate the complexities of the health and social scare system and provide that consistent care and understanding that is so crucial to someone feeling understood and seen.

Social work matters – our case for investment - Think Ahead Social work matters – but it’s continuously undervalued and overlooked by policy makers. This World Social Work Day we’re launching our Social Work Matters campaign to ensure that everyone with severe mental illness has access to a mental health social worker. We welcome the government’s commitment to investment in frontline roles but want to be sure […]

That’s why we have been calling on the government to ensure that everyone with a severe mental health condition has access to a mental health social worker: https://thinkahead.org/news-item/social-work-matters-our-case-for-investment/

#MentalHealthSocialWork #MentalHealth

Blue background with white and yellow text that reads 'Working with a social worker really helped me. Unlike a doctor or nurse who looks at your symptoms and treatment for them, they look at your whole life.'

The difference mental health social workers can make is transformational.

For Harris, support of his social worker helped him to manage his severe anxiety  depression.

Everyone struggling with their mental health deserves the support that Harris got, to get well and stay well.

#SocialWorkMatters

To realise the ambitions of the 10-year health plan, we need a social care workforce that is skilled, valued & equipped to meet growing and complex needs.

Mental health social workers are a vital part of this workforce - we’ll continue to develop and support them to make a lasting difference.

The latest Skills for Care report shows some positive steps in adult social care, including falling vacancy rates.

But real and persistent challenges remain in building a workforce that is supported, developed, and recognised for the value it brings.

"I hope to continue as a social worker. It is a tough job, but so rewarding, and I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

https://thinkahead.org/our-training-programme/about-mental-health-social-work/#read-about-different-areas-of-work

🗣️“Social work is a job that sometimes has negative connotations but also lots of people don’t know what we do.”

Harry trained with us as a mental health social worker in 2021 and shares his experiences working in an older adults team in Durham.

Lessons from Labour Party Conference 2025: Where is mental health?   - Think Ahead Our Head of Communications and Public Affairs Katie Leay shares her reflections from this year’s Labour Party Conference.    Labour’s 2025 Conference was buzzing with ambition to transform our health system – but I came away thinking – is mental health being forgotten again? I attended alongside our Chief Executive, Philippa Mariani, and Levi Chambers-Cook – […]

We will keep standing up for mental health, championing a social approach, & speaking up for a mental health workforce to have what it needs:

Graphic with a teal blue background with white and yellow text that reads 'Over 1.8 million people are currently on waiting lists for mental health care. And because mental and physical health are deeply connected, neglecting one means failing on both.' In the bottom left corner of the graphic is a headshot of Katie, who is a white woman with long dark hair.

Graphic with a teal blue background with white and yellow text that reads 'We will keep standing up for mental health, championing a social approach, and speaking up for a mental health workforce to have the resources and support it needs.' In the bottom left corner of the graphic is a headshot of Katie, who is a white woman with long dark hair.

“Mental health is not getting the focus it desperately needs.”

That’s one of the key reflections our Head of Communications and Public Affairs Katie had after this year’s Labour Party conference.

#LabourConference #MentalHealth

We join @rethinkcharity.bsky.social
in urging the government to invest in mental health services - and the dedicated professionals working in them - to ensure everyone living with mental health needs can access the right support, at the right time.

#MentalHealth

🚨74% of people living with mental illness are not getting the right treatment at the right time.

We know the mental health workforce are already being pushed to their limits. But with 1.8 million people on NHS #MentalHealth waiting lists, the government must act now.

A photo of two woman sat on a safe together in conversation. There is a blue overlay across the image. White and yellow text reads 'social care is skilled, essential work that deserves better pay and conditions.'

The Fair Pay Agreement is a long-overdue recognition that #SocialCare is skilled, essential work that deserves better pay & conditions.

The £500m commitment is a start but we need sustained workforce investment to:

✅improve conditions
✅tackle staff shortages
✅support longer-term reform

We know Giles will be a valuable addition to the mental health workforce, and look forward to seeing him and our other trainees develop over the next two years.

#SocialWorkers #MentalHealthSocialWork

Photo of Giles, a white white man with short dark hair. He is stood up and smiling at the camera wearing a grey top and blue jeans. Next to him white text reads 'Training as a social worker feels like a really exciting opportunity get out on my feet and engage with the local community.'

Giles shares his motivations for training with us as a mental health social worker:

“I think it comes from a place of always wanting to work with people directly, having valued that in my previous roles in the charity sector.

I want to help people get the best out of everything on offer.”

Photo of two women sat down facing each other. The woman on the left has a laptop and is making notes on paper as well. Across the text a screenshot of an article headline reads 'from pet sitter to domestic abuse advocate: the unseen life of a mental health social worker.'

There are endless misunderstandings about the role of a mental health #SocialWorker.

We love this Community Care article exploring the value of the role: https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/08/27/from-pet-sitter-to-domestic-abuse-advocate-the-unseen-life-of-a-mental-health-social-worker/

Photo of a front of a house, with an orange filter over it. White and black text reads 'We need a social approach to mental health.'

Difficult social situations can contribute to mental health ill health, but improving the social factors in someone’s life can be transformational.

Mental health social workers empower people to manage the social factors in their lives, providing life-changing support.

#SocialWorkMatters

Photo of a front of a house, with an orange filter over it. White and black text reads 'Housing. Relationships. Employment. They can all impact our mental health.'

Social workers can support with the things that matter most to us all. Housing. Family. Employment. Community.

When someone is experiencing #MentalHealth problems, they may need support in all areas of their life.

#SocialWork #MentalHealthSocialWork

Responding to whether social workers will be in the next NHS workforce plan - Think Ahead Mental health social workers must be properly recognised as part of the NHS workforce. We were so pleased to hear Andrew George MP raise the vital question of whether social workers will be included in the next NHS workforce plan at this week’s Health and Social Care Select Committee session. This is something we said […]

This is something we said loud and clear in our evidence to the Committee earlier this year, and it's what we've been calling for in our #SocialWorkMatters campaign:

Mental health social workers must be properly recognised as part of the NHS workforce.
 
We were so pleased to hear Andrew George MP raise the vital question of whether social workers will be included in the next NHS workforce plan at this week’s Health and Social Care Select Committee session.

World Suicide Prevention Day Every year, on 10 September, organisations around the world get together to raise awareness about suicide prevention.

Visit Samaritans' website for information and resources: https://www.samaritans.org/support-us/campaign/world-suicide-prevention-day/

If you need support:

📞call Samaritans on 116 123 (anytime day or night)
📧 email Samaritans jo@samaritans.org (can take several days for a response)

Teal background with yellow and white text that reads 'Just start the conversation. You never really know what a difference you could make.'

Teal background with yellow and white text that reads 'If you're having suicidal thoughts, talk to Samaritans. Call free on 116 123.'

Starting a conversation about suicide can save someone’s life.

This #WorldSuicidePreventionDay we’re sharing this important message from Samaritans.

Small interruptions you make and actions you take could help someone who is suicidal - you don’t have to be an expert.

The image is a job advert. White background with black text that reads 'We're hiring: business development manager'. The black text is highlighted in yellow. Underneath this bullet points outline the job as part-time 30 hours a week, offered as a 6 month fixed-term contract and a salary of £34,400. White text says that the advert closes on Tuesday 16 September.

📣 We’re #Hiring! Join our mental health charity as our new Business Development Manager.

If you have a passion for driving new business growth and supporting new projects, apply now: https://thinkahead.org/workwithus/opportunities-at-head-office/

Closing: 5pm, Tuesday 16 September

#CharityJobs

Community and mental health - lived experience insights - Think Ahead Two of our lived experience partners and Sarah, our Involvement Lead, share what community means to them. They discuss the importance of community and peer support, to mark Mental Health Awareness Week. Saffron Community, to me, means connection, shared passion, as well as safety, and belonging—something that offers a sense of grounding when the world […]

Discover more about the relationship between community and #MentalHealth: