Think Ahead promotes change and innovation in workforce development and is well-known for its successful adult social work programme. Launched in 2016, under the strategic leadership of Professor Dame Carol Black, CBE, we have trained nearly 1,000 people through our accelerated two-year, practice-based mental health career development pathway, culminating in a post-graduate qualification and a Master’s degree in social work. The Think Ahead flagship programme in mental health social work focuses on social factors that affect mental health and wellbeing —like housing, employment, access to education, discrimination and relationships with family and friends. A difficult social situation can be part of the root causes of mental illness, and improving the social factors in someone’s life can have a transformative effect.

THE ROLE

We believe that advocating for, promoting and co-producing a social approach to mental health learning and development within the health and social care workforce is essential to address the national challenge. We also believe sharing knowledge and learning in workforce development, service design and innovation helps to build a more effective response to the growing need for mental health support and ultimately enables and empowers people, their networks, and their communities.

We are now seeking two new Trustees to join our dedicated and experienced Board of Trustees, to help drive forward our ambitious new strategy and ensure we are governed to the highest possible standards. You will work with Board colleagues to set our strategic objectives and ensure we are best positioned to deliver against our key strategic priorities. One of the appointments will be as Chair of the Board’s Finance, Audit and Risk Committee.

We are looking for two inspiring leaders with a proven, senior profile and who bring their credibility and insight to an already strong Board. We welcome candidates with public or private sector knowledge and experience, what is essential is possessing strong strategic and commercial skills and deep financial acumen. We are also keen to hear from candidates who share our vision for innovation in the mental health workforce and ideally offer experience of engaging with stakeholders to help unlock opportunities for funding and strategic development.

You will ideally be someone with the highest level of personal integrity, skilled ambassadorial capability and maturity of judgement. You will also be natural collaborator, with highly effective interpersonal and communication skills and able to demonstrate a commitment to the mission and values of Think Ahead. We also want to ensure any appointee is committed to promoting diversity, in its broadest possible sense.

If you are interested in helping us in the next stage of our exciting journey, and believe you have the personal qualities, skills and experience we are looking for, we very much look forward to hearing from you.