Social Work Practice With Groups

Social Work Practice With Groups
Guide for Facilitating Group

 Target group  Theme/ Topic / Subject  Program / Time-Frame
 Size Matter  Tasking/ Responsible
 Needs of the Target  Objectives  Logistics (Materials
group  Process Needed)
 Content/ Input
INTRODUCTION
 Social work with groups has played an important role in transforming the way we think about
clients and about the helping process.
 Science has made the discovery that infants who are isolated from other human beings succumb
to inattention.
 Psychologists have observed that learning can actually be enhanced by associations with others.
 It is a well documented fact than many of the physical and mental illnesses of people are caused
by social and emotional malaise and that social needs bring people to the office of social
workers, psychologists, and marriage counselors.
 People not only need to be loved, they need to know that they are wanted and understood.
 Human beings are strongly dependent on interactions with other humans.
 Social work practice with groups builds on the important impact of groups on individuals and
utilizes group processes to accomplish individual and group goals..
GROUP WORK DEFINITION

 Group work is a method of working with people in groups (two or more people) for personal
growth, the enhancement of social functioning, and for the achievement of socially desirable
goals.
 Group work is a method of reducing or eliminating roadblocks to social interaction and for
accomplishing socially desirable purposes.
 Almost all social service agencies use group work.
 The social group worker uses their knowledge of group organization and functioning to affect the
performance and adjustment of the individual.
 The individual remains the focus of concern and the group the vehicle of growth and change.
 Enhancement of social functioning through the use of the group is the primary aim of group
work.
GROUP WORK MODELS
Social Goals Model:

 Designed to bring about important social gains for the group.
 It is likely to address itself to problems within communities and is practiced in settlement houses,
P.T.A. organizations, and community service and neighborhood councils.
 This Model has been used in addressing social problems accompanying community development
and growth.
The Remedial Model:
 Tends to be clinically oriented.
 Facilitates the interaction among members of the group to achieve change for the individual.
 The group supports the member, encouraging new, more appropriate modes of functioning.
 Intervention is reality focused and addresses the problem of dysfunction in the group and within
the full range of the individual’s relationships.
The Reciprocal Model:
 Serves both the individual and society.
 Sees the individual largely as an abstraction that can be studied, understood, and treated only in
relation to the many systems and subsystems of which they are a part.
 It views the individual as being created, influenced, and modified by their relationships, social
institutions, and the interdependency between society and the individual.
FORMATION OF GROUPS
Worker Goals:
 Include the plans, methods, means, and programming developed and used to help members
accomplish their goals and purposes.
 Responsible for the organization, the treatment process, and termination.
 Clarity of purpose, goal formulations, and purpose are essential in group process.
STRUCTURING THE GROUP

The Setting:
 The setting is related to purpose.
 For children with limited self-control, activities in a gymnasium or on a playground do not
provide essential boundaries for group.
 Privacy should be provided.
 The use of a table may represent a psychological barrier to interaction for some groups.
Group Size:
 The number of participants ought to be determined by the objectives of each group.
 Seven to nine members are most often thought to be small enough to allow for open discussion
and attention given to individuals.
 The recommended size for educational groups is larger with groups as small as twelve or as large
as thirty.
Group Rules:
 A group that makes is own rules is more likely to abide by them and to apply sanctions as
needed to reinforce them.
 Individual beliefs and values should be considered in relation to group rules.
 Rules should be few in number and include only those deemed essential to achieve the purposes
of the group.
 Some members may attempt to impose inappropriate rules on the group.
Open or Closed Groups:
 Designations of “open” and “closed” pertain to the timing of admissions to the group.
 Closed groups include only those members selected at the group’s formation.
 Open groups are like a slice of life – birth, separation, marriage, and death.
 Open systems tend to simulate reality and provide transferability to real life situations.
Short-Term or Long-Term Groups:
 Adults and mature adolescents usually can accept a time limit on the number of meetings to
accomplish their goals.
 Youngsters who have experienced repeated rejections may see time limits negatively and try to
negotiate for more sessions rather than invest themselves in the area of goal attainment.
Meeting Days and Time:
 The day and time of meetings will be adapted to the needs and wishes of the members as part of
initial planning.
 Groups usually meet weekly for one to two hours.
 Groups living in institutions may meet more frequently.
 As goals are achieved meetings can be tapered off.
Leadership:
 Many group workers advocate the development of leadership ability in all group members.
 Some workers advocate a revolving leadership system, particularly in activity groups with
children and adults.
 Group workers continually must assess the leadership development of their group as well as the
members ability to share leadership functions and participate as both leaders and followers.
STAGES OF GROUP
Beginning:
 Group worker sets the stage
 Worker takes time to identify the purpose
 Clearly commit to the goals and procedures
 Members need to know what they can expect from the worker
 This stage is characterized as a time to convene, to organize, and to set a plan.
 Members are likely to remain distant or removed until they have had time to develop
relationships.
Middle:
 Almost all of the group’s work will occur during this stage.
 Relationships are strengthened as a group so that the tasks can be worked on.
 Problem solving is a term often used to describe this stage.
 Group leaders are usually less involved
 The leader may remind the group of their goals and rules and confront relationships that may be
interfering with the overall purpose of the group.
End:
 Marked by the accomplishment of the goals of the group, production of results, and the
evaluation of the group’s work.
 Preparation for termination should begin with the first session.
 The worker will help members deal with their feelings associated with the termination of the
group.
 Help participants plan on ways to maintain and generalize the gains each member has made.
Group Work Settings

Traditional Settings:
The YMCA and YWCA are examples of agencies that focus on the use of group process in helping
youths.
The YMCA had 2,000 units in the United States in l992, with a registered membership of 12.8 million.
The YWCA was operating out of thousands of locations in the US and represented more than 2 million
members in l998.
Group Services in Host Agencies:
Group process is being used considerably in the field of corrections.
In hospitals social workers often help patients in groups understand some of their medical and
emotional problems.
In psychiatric hospitals groups of patients join together on a group basis under the guidance of a
group leader.
Many school districts utilize group process in working with boys and girls who have various kinds of
personal and family problems.
Social Work with Groups
Group Life
Group Interaction is the social force through which individual growth and development takes place
It is the means through which societal growth & change are accomplished.
Small Group
A social system consisting of two or more persons who stand in status and role relationships with one
another and possessing a set of norms which regulate the attitudes and behaviours of the individual
members
Groups as a social system has a structure and some degree of stability in interaction, reciprocity,
interdependence and group bond
Thus, Group is a collection of people who need each other in order to work on certain common tasks,
and the social group worker provides hospitable environment to achieve those tasks”.
Rationale for group services in social work

As members become involved with one another, they develop helping relationships and take interest
in each other & participate in group activities.
Group classification
Accord. To Konapka (1983)

1. Development Group
2. Social Action Group
Accdg. To Toreland & Rivas (1984)
1. Treatment
2. Task group
Treatment group is divided into:

1. Remedial – the purpose is to make the members sustain their changed behaviour to cope p with
new changes in life
2. Growth group – are made to give best opportunities in one’s life towards their concerns & life
3. Task group – is formed for a certain activity or a task for its own development

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Social Work Practice With Groups

Guide for Facilitating Group

GROUP WORK DEFINITION

GROUP WORK MODELS

Social Goals Model:

STRUCTURING THE GROUP

Group Work Settings

Social Work with Groups

Rationale for group services in social work

Accord. To Konapka (1983)

Treatment group is divided into:

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