P1: Explain the function of research in health and social care
M1: Discuss the function of research in chosen area of interest
In this assignment, I will explain the different functions of research in health and social care with examples. I
will then discuss the function of research in a mental health clinic.
(P1) The first function of research in health and social care is identifying needs. All health and social care
professionals will have to identify the needs of individuals if they take part in the plan of care. The
information that has been collected will allow the professional to make decisions on what treatments and
care will be required to meet the patient’s needs. Individuals can sometimes have the same needs.
Furthermore, when developing a new treatment or care routine for everybody, it is important to carry out a
study before releasing it to the public. There are different organisations which are responsible for improving
the care for individuals who have specific needs and diseases by carrying out research, these are usually
charities. The research may be carried put in order to figure out better diagnoses for these diseases. This can
be done through screening or researching the physiological aspects of the disease, so that ways of slowing
down the disease or curing it can be developed. An example of identifying needs would be, a care worker
who is observing a resident and notices that they are starting to develop symptoms of dementia such as
memory loss or disorientation. They may decide to report this to a manager so that something can be done
about it.
(M1) There are many functions of identifying needs in a mental health clinic. One function would be to figure
out what treatments and care would be required for the patients. There are many different mental health
problems. For example, the most common ones are depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder,
bipolar disorder or addictions. All these disorders will require different treatments. For instance, an
individual with depression may require cognitive behavioural therapy and an individual with an addiction
may require medication treatment, they cannot receive the same treatment as that would not help them. It
is important that the mental health clinic is aware of the needs are of the people who use their service so
that they can provide the correct care for them and help improve their mental health.
(P1) Another function of research in health and social care is highlighting gaps in provision. The rise and fall
of local employment, young families moving in and growing up, young adults moving on, which leaves older
adults in the family home are all factors which affects the health and social care needs of different
communities. For instance, a new housing estate with many children would require different services to an
older estate with many elderly individuals. Since the improvement of highlighting gaps in provision older
people are living longer in the UK. Other services where gaps in provision have been recently highlighted
include support for adolescent mental health needs, the predicted swine flu epidemic and maternity care.
The government and local authorities constantly gather data in order to monitor the extent to which health
and social care services meet the needs of the local population, this is done at local and national levels. An
example of this would be, that it has recently been found that women do not receive adequate specialist
perinatal mental health services. “Around 1 in 10 women develop a mental illness during pregnancy or
within the first year after having a baby” (NHS CONFEDERTAION, 2014). The Everyone’s Business Campaign
has been introduced as a result of this, and aims to give all women access to perinatal mental health
services, and to train staff in perinatal mental health.
(M1) There are many functions of highlighting gaps in provision in a mental health clinic. One function would
be to ensure that it is catering to the needs of individuals in the community which it is in. For example, if the
Unit 22 1
M1: Discuss the function of research in chosen area of interest
In this assignment, I will explain the different functions of research in health and social care with examples. I
will then discuss the function of research in a mental health clinic.
(P1) The first function of research in health and social care is identifying needs. All health and social care
professionals will have to identify the needs of individuals if they take part in the plan of care. The
information that has been collected will allow the professional to make decisions on what treatments and
care will be required to meet the patient’s needs. Individuals can sometimes have the same needs.
Furthermore, when developing a new treatment or care routine for everybody, it is important to carry out a
study before releasing it to the public. There are different organisations which are responsible for improving
the care for individuals who have specific needs and diseases by carrying out research, these are usually
charities. The research may be carried put in order to figure out better diagnoses for these diseases. This can
be done through screening or researching the physiological aspects of the disease, so that ways of slowing
down the disease or curing it can be developed. An example of identifying needs would be, a care worker
who is observing a resident and notices that they are starting to develop symptoms of dementia such as
memory loss or disorientation. They may decide to report this to a manager so that something can be done
about it.
(M1) There are many functions of identifying needs in a mental health clinic. One function would be to figure
out what treatments and care would be required for the patients. There are many different mental health
problems. For example, the most common ones are depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder,
bipolar disorder or addictions. All these disorders will require different treatments. For instance, an
individual with depression may require cognitive behavioural therapy and an individual with an addiction
may require medication treatment, they cannot receive the same treatment as that would not help them. It
is important that the mental health clinic is aware of the needs are of the people who use their service so
that they can provide the correct care for them and help improve their mental health.
(P1) Another function of research in health and social care is highlighting gaps in provision. The rise and fall
of local employment, young families moving in and growing up, young adults moving on, which leaves older
adults in the family home are all factors which affects the health and social care needs of different
communities. For instance, a new housing estate with many children would require different services to an
older estate with many elderly individuals. Since the improvement of highlighting gaps in provision older
people are living longer in the UK. Other services where gaps in provision have been recently highlighted
include support for adolescent mental health needs, the predicted swine flu epidemic and maternity care.
The government and local authorities constantly gather data in order to monitor the extent to which health
and social care services meet the needs of the local population, this is done at local and national levels. An
example of this would be, that it has recently been found that women do not receive adequate specialist
perinatal mental health services. “Around 1 in 10 women develop a mental illness during pregnancy or
within the first year after having a baby” (NHS CONFEDERTAION, 2014). The Everyone’s Business Campaign
has been introduced as a result of this, and aims to give all women access to perinatal mental health
services, and to train staff in perinatal mental health.
(M1) There are many functions of highlighting gaps in provision in a mental health clinic. One function would
be to ensure that it is catering to the needs of individuals in the community which it is in. For example, if the
Unit 22 1
