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Running head: SOCIAL WORK 1

Social Work

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

SOCIAL WORK 2

Social Work

Introduction

To commence with, the term discourse refers to the aggregation of meanings through

which a specific need, social phenomenon, intervention and knowledge are perceived by

different people. Furthermore, discourse also implies the way human beings build their thoughts,

identities as well as the actions they portray in various daily undertakings. Moreover, social

workers can employ the discourse aspect and assist them in encountering and viewing the

customers’ needs. In that context, instead of relying on the dominant ideas to serve clients, social

workers are supposed to devise alternative and more accommodative ways which fully address

the clients’ needs.

As a result, we have three discourses namely alternative discourses, dominant discourses

and finally but not the least social and behavioral science discourses. These particular discourses

are miscellaneous, hence, applied in different real-life situations. In the case of the dominant

discourses, they are applicable in knowledge matters regarding welfare services and health as

well as in the power of shaping thoughts. The social and behavioral science discourses are

acquired from the disciplines that offer theory foundation and parent knowledge regarding the

social work activity. Lastly, the alternative discourses subsist outside the above-illustrated

discourses, but their effects on them are definite. Therefore, this paper seeks to address the case

posed to us of Mary and Jack, by employing three perspectives in unraveling the predicament

which has encroached in their life.

Issues to be addressed Regarding the Three Perspectives

The following issues prevalent in our case study should be tackled. To begin with, Mary

giving birth to Jack and instantly her weight increasing is a matter of concern if we have to be

SOCIAL WORK 3

reasonable in addressing her trouble. Subsequently, this becomes an obstacle in her entire life

since she cannot secure herself employment or even stroll for long distances.

The pension quandary depicted in the story of Mary also should be addressed

accordingly as it has critically impacted her life. As a result, Jack has not been attending school

regularly due to lack of fees. Again, the lady is not working and, thus, getting food has been a

grave problem for both of them. Furthermore, the rejection feeling building up in Mary as a

result of failing to find a job must be solved through the use of the three perceptions. Further, the

child protection aspect will be addressed accordingly and in our case, Jack will center of our

focus. The law, biomedical and Economic and New Public Management discourses will assist us

in analyzing and coming up with clarification of the issues above. Therefore, through utilizing

the above-outlined discourses, efficient solutions will be reached and the entire problem dealt

with effectively.

Description of the Selected Discourses

To start with, the Biomedical Discourse approach has played a vital role in the shaping of

ideas particularly in the health rehabilitation places, mental health services and hospices.

Moreover, it covers children protection practices by providing evidence of harm and abuse after

assessing and defining their causes to the respective bodies. The social workers must be in a

position to understand the expertise used in biomedical discourse and competently communicate

in these practice fields. Consequently, they should help their fellow acquaintances in

understanding the complicated jargon used in biomedical terms. On the other hand, legal

discourse stresses on case law and statutory law in shaping social workers’ framework. In that

context, the statutory law is developed by government and immensely affects social work.

Further, case law is obtained from case results and previous case analysis. Nevertheless, social

SOCIAL WORK 4

workers are sometimes are obliged to abide by the set code of rules and regulations in that

particular institution.

Also, Economic and New Public Management discourse, which is among our selected

discourses, deals with delivery of health and warfare services. For instance, a neoclassical

economic discourse has been used in numerous postindustrial states in making decisions

concerning public policy and financial matters. Moreover, neoclassical economists have

contributed to social work services with free-market ideas.

Strengths and Weaknesses of our Preferred Discourses

Strengths of Biomedical Discourse

According to Biomedical discourse, many preventive measures have been developed to

deal with emerging infections. In that context, various life-threatening diseases have been cured

through employing specific criterions. Nevertheless, in our case study, Mary's ailment can be

cured only if she approaches a physician and undergo clinical examination. Consequently, on

being examined she can be found to be suffering from obesity disorder perhaps, and effective

treatment carried out. In that context, since the assumptions made by the woman regarding the

disease she is suffering from are null, the best advice to her is that she must visit a medical

practitioner and be checked. As a result, the biomedical discourse will have unraveled the reason

behind what is happening to Mary’s health.

Additionally, the above discourse also advocates for early intervention and prevention.

According to the case study provided, the lady ailing could have prevented herself from reaching

such a critical state through accessing medical care immediately when she recognized the signs

of the entire problem.

SOCIAL WORK 5

Weaknesses of the Discourse

To start with, by utilizing biomedical discourse a lot of life issues have been handled

using a medical perspective. However, we should note that not all health problems require one to

seek health clarification in hospitals. For example, Mary can decide to embark on a severe

physical exercise and amazingly reduce her body size. Further, in this discourse when it comes to

allocation of funds, substantial funds are transferred to cater for pharmaceuticals. In our case, if

public funds are distributed proportionately in all government sectors, Jack could no longer be

idling at home. As a result, the school fees could be a bit economical and, thus, needy families maybe

could manage to meet education cost.

Strengths of Legal Discourse

The social workers are obliged by the law jurisdiction to share their personal information

on some occasions purposely for meeting the client interests. Subsequently, when counseling

Mary, I will have to relate her predicament with my real-life scenario and narrate the

repercussions I faced when I delayed going to seek medication. Moreover, the statutory law in

social work embraces the protection of children and the employees. In that context, Mary should

use the powers accorded to the workers by the legal law to sue the company she was formally

working. Perhaps, she can be compensated and use the money for her health expenses as well as

paying the fees the school owes Jack. Additionally, in social working there exists case law

deduced from various case studies conducted. Since these studies address the issues affecting the

working staff and their customers, they are better placed to tackle the case of Mary effectively.

Furthermore, through the use of the legal law which stipulates employment terms, Mary

should take legal action and find justice in the court of law regarding her pension predicament.

When she wins the case and reimbursed can take Jack back to school and use the rest to cater for

her medical costs. However, defeating the company in the court is not a mere thing and here

SOCIAL WORK 6

Mary has to prepare adequately with bulk evidence to convince the court that she was once an

employee in that particular organization. Additionally, statutory law accentuates on the

protection of child rights and, therefore, though indirectly the firm which had employed Mary

has undermined the rights of Jack by delaying to accord her mother the pension. Accordingly,

Mary should prepare adequately and face the reluctant company which has enormously violated

her rights.

Weaknesses of Legal Discourse

Besides this discourse being of importance to social workers, it has several limitations which

hinder its efficient performance. To start with, corruption is very rampant nowadays and it has

even entrenched itself in our courts. In that perspective, Mary’s case when handed over to a

judge who has an appetite for money undoubtedly the defendant will be the winner. Moreover,

the constitutional law is exceedingly coercive especially to lose the party. Consequently, if Mary

loses the case in the court of law, putting up with the situation would not be easy bearing in mind

that she is even sick. Further, in some instances, the statutory law fails to recognize the aged

people in exploitation and protection. Consequently, Mary though middle-aged she may fall

victim to the same.

Neoclassical Economics and New Management Discourse (NPM)

Strengths of NPM

The above discourse (NPM) advocates for extending services even if the client has catered for

their cost. In that context, the hospitals should offer extra services to Mary putting into

consideration her financial status. For instance, the hospice can choose to be providing free

exercise services to this lady. Again, the school Jack is attending need to understand the

devastating condition the student is undergoing and treat him as an exceptional.

SOCIAL WORK 7

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