A woman whose first job after university was teaching in a secondary school and who is now training as a mental health social worker is urging graduates to consider mental health roles when thinking about their careers.

Anna-Clare Mitchell, a University of Oxford English graduate, is currently in her second year of a new on-the-job graduate training programme called Think Ahead which, in partnership with NHS mental health trusts and local authorities nationwide, offers graduates and career-changers paid training to become mental health social workers.

With the deadline for applications for this year’s intake approaching Anna-Clare is urging people with a degree in any subject to consider taking the first step towards a new role where they can support people with mental health problems to lead more fulfilling lives.

There are still a limited number of places available to train with the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.

Anna-Clare said: “I was working as an English teacher at a secondary school at the time, and my role as form tutor included looking after the support needs of pupils in my class. While I really enjoyed the interaction with the students, I felt troubled that I did not have the time or skills to respond to many of the challenges they were facing at home, including those relating to mental health. This made me start to think about mental health as a career.

“My experience of Think Ahead so far has been great. You spend a significant time in a range of mental health settings, with a good balance between theory and practice, and you develop the skills and knowledge on the job to be able to provide high-quality support to people in ways that promote their independence.

“I find helping people at more difficult times in their lives so rewarding.”

Participants learning on the job in Salisbury will receive a tax-free training bursary of £17,200 in their first 14 months and will then become a newly-qualified salaried social worker, paid by the NHS Trust employing them. All applications to the programme must be submitted on the Think Ahead website by April 29.

Since the first intake joined Think Ahead in 2016 nearly 300 people have benefitted from the programme attracted from a wide range of backgrounds. Candidates need a 2:1 degree in any subject – previous participants have studied everything from psychology, sociology and politics to archaeology, drama and sports science.

Successful applicants will start the programme in July 2019 with a residential summer institute and join their host organisation full-time in September.

Find out more from: www.thinkahead.org