Extension of contract for the delivery of the academic elements of the Think Ahead Mental Health Social Work Training Programme

Think Ahead intends to extend its existing contract with Middlesex University. Think Ahead believe that competition is absent. Think Ahead has previously partnered with Middlesex University to develop, accredit and deliver the academic elements of the Think Ahead programme. The contract awarded to them in September 2018 includes both the 2019 and 2020 student cohort, with an optional extension to include the 2021 cohort. The academic programme provided jointly by Think Ahead and Middlesex University has been approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), now Social Work England (SWE). In order to fall in line with a Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) procurement process, currently intended to cover both the 2021 and 2022 cohort, with an optional extension to cover the 2023 cohort, Think Ahead intend to extend the contract in place with Middlesex University to tie in with the DHSC contract should they be successful in the procurement process.