Today’s budget makes it clear: mental health is still not being treated with the urgency it deserves. While we welcome investment in new neighbourhood health centres and measures like raising the minimum wage, the absence of any dedicated plan or funding for mental health is a serious omission.

We are still on a high from our conference with IPS Grow where we heard about the fantastic work happening across the country. IPS (Individual Placement and Support) is an employment support approach that enables people with mental health needs, who want to work, find a job that's right for them.

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.

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.

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

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.

🗣️“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.

“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

🚨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.

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

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.”

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/

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

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.

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.

📣 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

Good community mental health support can be life-changing for people with mental health needs. Saffron, one of our lived experience partners, shares: 🗣️ “The best community mental health support I’ve experienced has been person-centered, trauma-informed & flexible.

Social workers are vital for mental health services. They bring professional expertise, compassion & a commitment to social justice. Lyn Romeo, former Chief Social Worker for Adults & one of our trustees, advocated for the role of social workers at @basw-uk.bsky.social  conference this summer.

🗣️“I've always been interested in social justice and I think mental health is a really big issue in today's society.” Lewis, one of our 2025 trainees, shared with us his motivations for wanting to work in mental health and train as a social worker.

Misunderstood, undervalued, overlooked: social workers only make up around 2% of the mental health workforce. 🚨We’re calling on the government to recognise the value of social workers and include them in its upcoming NHS Workforce Plan.

🚨 There are only enough mental health social workers in the NHS to support 1 in 8 people who have severe mental illness. Mental health social workers are vital professionals who can make such a difference to people’s life - but we need more of them. #SocialWorkMatters

📢Everyone with a severe mental illness should have access to a mental health social worker. Mental health social workers provide life-changing support – but the profession is continuously misunderstood, undervalued and overlooked.

“I learned so much & met so many wonderful people. The future of social work is very bright.” Those are the words of one of our trainees after the Summer Institute. Congratulations to the 2025 cohort for completing five weeks intensive training as they begin their social work journey.

Last week our social work trainees heard from Marie, who has lived experience of mental health needs and has worked with a Think Ahead social worker. “Alex didn't support me. She was led by me. She advocated for me and we worked together to find solutions to problems in a way that worked for me.

🚨 “Our nation’s mental health is at crisis point - and social workers are a vital part of the solution.” Lyn Romeo CBE, our trustee & former Chief Social Worker for Adults, chaired a @basw-uk.bsky.social conference session on how mental health social workers are essential in mental health services.

Summer Institute Roundup: Week 4 of 5! ✅ Our trainees are now four weeks into their journey training as mental health social workers. This week they learnt about mental health diagnosis and treatment and social work theories and tools. 🗣️ Plus they heard from lived experience speaker Marie.

Elizabeth’s mental health social worker provided her with lifechanging support - but not everyone with mental health needs is as fortunate. Social workers like Elizabeth’s can be a crucial advocate for people, supporting with social issues like housing, relationships and employment.

Summer Institute Roundup: Week 3 of 5! ✅ That’s a wrap on the residential week of the Summer Institute at Middlesex University. We hope everyone on the cohort had a good week meeting their fellow social work trainees in person. #ThinkAheadProgramme #MentalHealthSocialWork

📢 It’s Residential Week at this year’s Summer Institute! We’re excited to meet and work with our new cohort for the first time in person at Middlesex University. Stay tuned for highlights 👀 #ThinkAheadProgramme #MentalHealthSocialWork

Summer Institute Roundup: Week 2 of 5! ✅ 🗣️ Our trainees heard from inspirational guest speaker Jake Mills, founder of Chasing the Stigma. The Summer Institute, and the whole #ThinkAheadProgramme, is delivered in partnership with our academic partners Middlesex University. #MentalHealthSocialWork

Mental health is not just a health issue, but a social one.  That's why we welcome the opening of the first 24/7 Neighbourhood Mental Health Centre. We're pleased that the centres will offer community-focused support to people with mental health needs, including advice on employment and housing.

🗣️”There was a huge power of lived experience that could reach people in a way they weren’t being reached before.” Jake Mills, founder of Chasing the Stigma, shared his own experience of #MentalHealth needs, when he realised how hearing someone’s lived experience can resonate strongly with people.

🚨 We will not fix healthcare unless we fix social care too. @adass.bsky.social survey shows how investment in social care is needed more than ever. Social care doesn't exist in a vacuum - it's intrinsically linked with physical & mental health care.

🗣️ “My social worker went above and beyond the call of duty. I’m proud to have had his support over the years.” Andrew shared with our social work trainees his experience of being an inpatient in a mental health ward and inspiring journey of recovery. #ThinkAheadProgramme #MentalHealthSocialWork

Summer Institute starts today! Big welcome to our new trainees beginning their journey into mental health social work, with 5 weeks of intensive training at Middlesex University. Over the next 5 weeks we’ll share key learnings as they prepare for their frontline role. #MentalHealth #SocialWork

The 10-year health plan sets out important ambitions - but without workforce investment it won’t deliver.  We welcome the priorities set out in the plan. Shifting care into the community, focusing on prevention, and tackling the root causes of ill health are the right areas of focus.

Welfare reform should strengthen the safety net, not pull it away from those who need it most.   We’re relieved changes made to the welfare reform bill will protect people who are currently receiving support & allow time for more consultation and consideration on Personal Independence Payments.

🎓 Massive congratulations to our 2022 cohort for graduating last week! This marks the end of their time on the programme with us, but only the start of their careers as mental health social workers.

🚨Poor mental health is increasing in the UK – the government must act now. Newest Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey data shows a worrying increase of people experiencing mental health conditions, when mental health services & practitioners are already being pushed to their limits:

⚠️The mental health workforce must be representative of the communities they work with. For #PrideMonth we’re highlighting the importance of LGBTQ+ social workers. Saffron shares how valuable her social worker was: https://thinkahead.org/story/why-we-need-more-lgbtq-people-in-social-work/

Last week our Practice Specialists Catherine & Racheal attended the National Organisation for Practice Teaching Annual Practice Education Conference. It was a fantastic day, filled with informative sessions & the chance to network with practice educators from across the country.

Nominations are open for the National Lived Experience Awards! ⏰  Our Chief Executive, @philippamariani.bsky.social is on the judging panel for the Social Care Star Award - recognising exceptional commitment to co-production in a social care setting. #NLEA2025

Social workers play a vital role in mental health services - that's the message we were delighted to share at @basw-uk.bsky.social #BaswConf25. Powerful insights were shared from @lynromeo.bsky.social & the panel on the distinct contribution social workers make to #MentalHealth teams.

Our Chief Executive @philippamariani.bsky.social is at @nhsconfed.org #NHSConfedExpo today speaking on how voluntary sector partnerships are at the heart of the shift from hospital to communities. Catch her and the rest of the panel at 12pm ⏰ www.nhsconfedexpo.org/speakers/phi...

Today's #SpendingReview gives us a crucial insight into what the government’s priorities really are - but we want to see more done to ensure #MentalHealth gets the urgent attention it needs.

This report is clear: without strong, properly supported mental health services, the government's vision for the future of health and care simply won’t be achieved. We fully support @nhsproviders.bsky.social call to deliver true equality between mental and physical health.