Assignment Brief
Submission Deadline
Marks and Feedback
Before 10am on:
10/12/2021
20 working days after deadline (L4, 5 and 7)
15 working days after deadline (L6)
10 working days after deadline (block delivery)
18/01/2022
Key assignment details
Unit title & code
ASS091-2 Mental Health and Society
Assignment number and title
Assignment 1 Report
Assignment type
WR-I Individual report
Weighting of assignment 100%
Size or length of assessment
2000 words
You are allowed 10% over or under the word count.
Note that reference lists, appendices, contents page and title page do not count in the word limit.
Unit learning outcomes
1. Demonstrate the following knowledge and understanding
of the nature, prevalence and impact of mental illness.
2. Demonstrate the following skills and abilities
Critically analyse the evidence for how the experience of, and interventions for, a specific mental illness impact on those who are affected by it.
What am I required to do in this assignment?
The assignment will take the form of a 2000 word report related to mental health service user and carer perspectives on living with a mental illness/disorder. The report contents must also include a critical account of mental health service users in the UK and carers/parents (where appropriate) views on services and support mechanisms involved in the process of supporting the recovery of individuals by meeting their diverse needs.
You will need to choose a mental illness to focus on and a social group, e.g. children and young people under age 18 or working age adults or older people aged 65 and older or people in prison, and critically analyse how your chosen mental illness impacts on your chosen social group from the service users’ perspective. You need to critically analyse the evidence for how the experience of, and interventions for, your chosen mental illness impact on those in your social group.
You will be expected to use qualitative data to describe the lives of those affected by your chosen illness and how they view treatment and support services. For the qualitative data, you should draw on primary research studies where service users and/or families/carers speak about their experiences i.e. you must use primary research studies that give ‘voice’ to your chosen social group. These are studies that look at what your social group have to say life is like for them living with the mental health problem and the impact the mental illness has on them and their life as well as what they say about the support/mental health services they receive in the UK.
Finally, you must critically evaluate the services/support received by your chosen group. You need to say whether or not, based on the evidence, these mental health services/support in the UK are working to assist/help your chosen group and whether all with your chosen condition have equal access to services. Here you can also draw on studies where those with mental illnesses speak about the support they receive and whether it is enough/meets their needs.
The final report must include a full reference list of texts and sources cited in the main body. All referencing in the text and reference list must follow the Harvard style, as specified in the Harvard referencing guidelines. Please remember you only ever list primary sources in your reference list. Please look up secondary referencing in the Faculty's Harvard referencing guidelines.
To pass the assignment, there is an expectation that you will draw on a range of both academic sources including peer-reviewed primary research papers, academic books and academic journal articles and other appropriate sources.
Proofread and edit your work before handing it in.
The report format should be as follows:
1. Title page (you must provide your own title)
2. Abstract or Executive Summary (on a separate page)
3. Table of contents (which includes page numbers for the different sections/subsections and should be on a new page)
4. Introduction
5. Discussion of findings (should consist of different headed sections/subsections; subheading titles should also appear in your table of contents)
6. Conclusion
7. References
8. Appendix/Appendices. Appendices should be given titles and these should be included in your Table of Contents. (Note you do not have to use appendices.)
You are reminded that plagiarism of any type will be penalised and result in a fail and may result in work being refe
ed to the University’s Academic Conduct Panel.
What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF)
In order to pass the assessment, you will need to:
· Provide evidence of understanding of the diversity of mental health service users, and demonstrate the ability to interpret evidence
· Explore the validity of prevailing approaches and the ways in which patients and service users respond to them.
· Utilise qualitative data from service users’ and, where appropriate, carers’ perspectives to understand experiences of those affected by your chosen illness or disorder and to critically evaluate the services/support they receive in their recovery.
How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?
Ca
y out wider reading of peer-reviewed journals drawing on appropriate UK based qualitative studies and adopt an appropriate critical approach to your analysis and evaluation of mental health services, treatment and support in the UK, considering the diverse needs of different groups/individuals. Reference accurately and systematically throughout your work using the co
ect Harvard format. Write in clear, accurate and succinct academic English.
Do not simply describe signs and symptoms of your chosen mental illness and do not simply describe different treatments/therapies available. This is not what the task is about. You must focus on service users’ perspectives on treatments/therapies/support.
How does this assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions?
It links to the issues discussed in the weekly lectures and helps you develop an in-depth understanding of how the needs of mental health service users are met in the UK from the service users’ perspective.
How will my assignment be marked?
Your assignment will be marked according to the threshold expectations and the criteria on the following page.
You can use them to evaluate your own work and consider your grade before you submit.
70%+ (Ist Class)
60-69% (2:1)
50-59% (2:2)
40-49% (3rd Class)
Threshold Standard
35-39% (Fail)
0-34% (Fail)
1. FOCUS ON TASK
Answers question/completes task
30%
Critical and analytical work, which demonstrates a rigorous approach to the task. Focused, yet sophisticated, elements of the finished product show a considered appraisal of the task’s aims.
Learning outcomes are met in a comprehensive analytical response to the task. There is evidence of careful planning and all assessment criteria are addressed. All elements of the task are addressed with an attempt at critical evaluation of services/support for mental health service users.
A competent piece of work, which addresses most of the task requirements. The assignment is more descriptive than analytical but there is some attempt to include appropriate qualitative studies.
There is some engagement with the task, but some key elements are missing e.g. use of qualitative data is lacking or services/support is not evaluated. There is evidence of a lack of understanding of the assignment
ief.
There is little engagement with the task of evaluating services/support from service users’ perspective. The discussion is very superficial with little focus on the requirements.
No evidence of focus on the task, with a consequent failure to meet the learning outcomes. Work is either insufficient or incomplete and does not address those elements essential to success.
2.KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge and understanding of relevant material
35%
Evidence of sophisticated and varied knowledge displayed in a balanced approach to the task. Excellent understanding is demonstrated throughout of the needs and views of mental health service users. An in-depth, critical evaluation is provided of mental health support mechanisms involved in the process of supporting the recovery of mental health service users by meeting their diverse needs. Confidence with theories and perspectives is demonstrated and so the work is extremely academic in nature. The work draws on a
oad range of appropriate academic sources/peer-reviewed journal articles, including a range of primary research papers.
There is clear evidence of varied and in-depth reading and of a willingness to use independently acquired knowledge. A range of appropriate qualitative primary research papers are utilised to construct a critical account of mental service users’ perspectives and experiences of services and support. The work shows significant comprehension of the subject as well as an interest in it. Good understanding of the impact the chosen mental health issue has on the lives of the chosen social group is evident and the work evidences sound understanding of services users’ views on the mental health support received.
Sound knowledge and understanding of key themes and relevant qualitative data are present in most of the work. Service users’ perspectives are described with some attempt to critically evaluate services. Appropriate academic sources are used to construct the argument albeit in a largely descriptive manner.
There is some basic knowledge in the work and a limited range of relevant material but with an ove
eliance on non-academic sources. Terminologies or language expected at this level are used either imprecisely, or not at all. Services/support are simply described with no attempt to critically evaluate. Understanding of, and evidence related to, service users’ views and experiences of mental health services and support is lacking. There is a tendency simply to describe different types of treatments and/or signs and symptoms of the chosen mental health condition.
The work does not demonstrate basic knowledge due to overuse of long quotations and/or lack of understanding or lack of focus of the chosen topic and on service users views/experiences. There is little evidence of reading of appropriate sources.
There is little evidence of engagement with course material and concepts. Opinions are presented rather than arguments supported by sound sources. The work does not meet the standards required at this level of study.
3. STRUCTURE
Clear, logical and coherent structure
10%
The structure and flow of the work has been given careful thought. Introductory sections are concise, yet comprehensive, the main body is efficiently constructed and the concluding section is convincing. There is a satisfying and cohesive feel to the work and the author understands both the purpose and nature of the specified format.
The work is presented in an accurate and effective format. Themes and topics are discussed in a clear and appropriate style, and there is evidence of careful planning. The work flows well from beginning to end and is structured well, in order to achieve this.
The assignment has been produced in the required format with some care. Not all sections of the work link effectively into each other and there may be minor problems with style and flow.
There is some attempt to structure the work, but it is rather unsuccessful on the whole. Ideas and arguments are presented in an illogical and disjointed manner at times and the contents are not convincingly communicated as a result. There is evidence of a lack of care and planning in the production of the work