Developing a care plan Report writing

Practical report: developing a care plan

* 100% of final grade

* 2,500 words (+ 10%)

You will be asked to select one of several case studies (provided on Moodle) and create a specific plan of action for an imagined client. This will involve identifying the complex needs of the client, providing background information on their diagnosis, considering potential risks, and developing an appropriate treatment plan.

This coursework will allow you to link the theoretical issues discussed in class to matters relevant to practice, and will give you the opportunity to write a practical report similar to one you may encounter when working in mental health. You must use references throughout to help support the points which you have made.

This report should include the following:

1. A brief summary of the case highlighting the most important elements of the clients story. This should include discussion of the diagnosis / diagnoses and any only elements you deem to be important. This must be summarised in your own words rather than copied from the case study directly.

2. Analysis of the main issues that the client is experiencing, including (but not limited to) those related to mental health, physical health, substance misuse, occupation, finances,

accommodation, social inclusion, family support, gender and class-based issues (etc.). Note: some of the cases may not involve all of the issues listed above.

3. An assessment of risk and protective factors based on the information that has been presented in the case study. Is the client a danger to themselves or others? What type of risk do you expect? If they are a risk to themselves or others, how so? Is there evidence of protective factors in their life that make harm or offending less likely? Include supporting evidence here.

4. What interventions are most appropriate? What plan of action/treatment would you recommend? Use research to explain how successful your chosen interventions are likely to

be, and your rationale for making these choices. Also, go beyond mental health and think about what can be done to address some of the other issues you have highlighted as well.

Word count

The word count of 2,500 words is for the entire report. There are suggested word counts for the separate sections of the report provided in the template on Moodle, although these should be considered just that - suggestions. It will be up to you to decide how you would like to break up your report, although do ensure (as with other assignments) that you are keeping descriptions short to allow yourself enough space for proper analysis.

Structure

To write your report you may use the template provided on Moodle or you can create your own care plan from scratch. Feel free to be as creative as you like with the style, but do ensure that you include points 1 4 above in your report. Headings are usually helpful in this regard.

Referencing

As with your other assignments, you will be expected to include references throughout to help support the points which you are making. These should primarily be in the form of academic journal articles to show that you have a good, up-to-date understanding of some of the challenges faced by forensic clients with mental health issues, as well as effective treatments for the specific diagnosis / diagnoses mentioned in your case. You should also rely heavily on the literature to help you to determine how to assess risk for your chosen client. In order to supplement these academic sources you may also wish to make reference to government or health service websites, relevant charities, or any other organisations which may help to support your chosen client. These additional references are often particularly helpful in your interventions

CASE STUDY-

CASE C

As a teenager, Emily was popular and had close friends. She did well in school and was on track to attend university. She planned to study veterinary sciences. She enjoyed sports, especially hockey and netball. She experienced moments of low mood, anxiety and stress. She felt that these were not worth seeking any kind of support for as many of her friends experienced these feelings too. She noticed that things seemed to feel especially difficult over the winter period, when days were short and dark. At university, Emily had the time of her life. She made friends, travelled, and enjoyed her studies. She also found a home in a society for students identifying as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour). She developed several intimate relationships which fizzled out amicably. Her interests in veterinary sciences only grew and she was able to secure a job straight out of graduation. She moved cities to start this new opportunity and was excited to meet new people. After some time in her new role and the new city, at the age of 30, Emily started to find work repetitive, unfulfilling, and with few chances for progression. She missed friends and family, struggled to make meaningful new connections, and felt she lacked shared cultural experiences with those around her. She felt her mood start to shift. She started to come to work late on some days and would turn down offers to join social gatherings. She skipped hockey trainings. Over time, things grew worse. Emily skipped work entirely and would go days without leaving the house. She often saw no one. She fixated on what her colleagues were thinking about her and whether they were glad she wasnt coming in. She found her concentration weakening and she struggled to get a good nights sleep. Her landlord threatened to evict her after she lost her job. She couldnt face eviction and swore she would not leave her rented accommodation. She felt that no one cared about her, and her apartment was all she had. In several letters she sent to her landlord, she said she would hurt herself or burn down the apartment if people threatened to take away her one safe space. The landlord grew worried for Emily's health but also the safety of the other tenants in the apartment block. The landlord had met Emilys family when she first moved in, and they seemed supportive and loving, but he didnt have their contact details. The landlord wondered if they should call the local Council, the police, or a mental health crisis team