The Focus of Group Work Practice

Social Work Practice with Groups
Prepared by Tikiko, Fitzerald C.
THE FOCUS OF GROUP WORK PRACTICE

According to Thelma Lee-Mendoza “Social Work as a profession is concerned with the person-his-life
situation or, more specifically, the individual’s social functioning.” Social functioning plays an important
role in the society and for an individual. In her book she focused the social functioning of a person. In the
book of Skidmore it is written there, “people do not live by themselves; they are not islands”. People
interact to others and their interaction could be done inside of the society, simply the person-in-
environment. And the “Introduction to Group Work Practice by Toseland and Rivas, Group work is
conceptualized from a generalist practice perspective. Social Work Practitioners use group work skills to
help meet the needs of individual group members, the group as a whole, and the community. Group
work involves the following:
1. Practice with a broad range of treatment and task groups
2. A focus on individual group members, the group as a whole, and the group’s environment
3. Application of foundation knowledge and skills from generalist social work practice to a broad
range of leadership and membership situations
4. Integration and use of specialized knowledge and skills based on a comprehensive assessment of
the needs of a particular group.
5. A recognition of the interactional and situational nature of leadership.
VALUES AND ETHICS IN GROUPWORK PRACTICE
Values
Social work adheres to many values, but the ultimate value of the profession rests on the conviction that
it is good and desirable for every human being to fulfil his potential, to realize himself, and to balance
this with equal efforts to help others do the same. This value commitment implies that every individual
has potential and capacity that can be harnessed toward his own self-realization, but that the individual
also has a social responsibility, that is, to contribute to the common good. This value commitment is
clearly evident in the way a social worker uses the group as an instrument to respond to the need or
problem of one group member even as this person also contributes to the development or problem-
solving of other group.
Values are beliefs that delineate preferences about how one ought to behave. They refer to a goal that
is worth attaining. (Rekeach,1998)
Ethics
Ethics is the science that is concerned with morals and right conduct. Professional ethics is the system of
ethical principles and rules of conduct which, in social work, are concrete expression of its philosophy,
values and principles that have just been described. They guide the social worker’s professional
relationship with clients, co, workers , the social work profession, the agency, and the community/public.
Definition of Groupwork
 Group Work is a method of working with people in groups (two or more people) for the
enhancement of social functioning and for the achievement of socially desirable goals.
 Group work is based on the knowledge of people’s needs for each other and their
interdependence.
 Groupwork is a method of reducing or eliminating roadblocks to social interaction and for
accomplishing socially desirable purposes.
CLASSIFYING GROUPS
Formed and Natural Groups
Formed groups are those that come together through some outside influence or intervention. They
usually have some sponsorship or affiliation and are convened for a particular purpose. Some examples
of formed groups are therapy groups, educational groups, committees, social action groups, and teams.
Natural groups come together spontaneously on the basis of naturally occurring events, interpersonal
attraction, or the mutually perceived needs of members. They often lack formal sponsorship. Natural
groups include family groups, peer groups, friendship networks, street gangs, and cliques.
Purpose and Group work
The term purpose can be defines as the general aims of a group. According to Wilson (1976),”the nature
of the framework for the practice of group depends on the purpose of the group [that is] served”. The
group identifies the reasons for bringing members together. As Klein (1972) notes, “purpose guides group
composition”. It also helps guide the group’s selection of goal-directed activities and define the broad
parameters of the services to be delivered.
Treatment and Task Groups
The term treatment group is used to signify a group whose major purpose is to meet members’
socioemotional needs. The purposes for forming treatment groups might include meeting members’
needs for support, education, therapy, growth, and socialization. In contrast the term task group is used
to signify any group in which the overriding purpose is to accomplish a goal that is neither intrinsically
nor immediately linked to the needs of the members of the group. Although the work of a task group
may ultimately affect the members of the group, the primary purpose of tsk groups is to accomplish a
goal that will affect a broader constituency, not just the members of the group.
A TYPOLOGY OF TREATMENT AND TASK GROUPS
According to Klein, group purposes can includethe following:

 REHABILITATION- restoring members to their former level of functioning
 HABILITATION- helping members grow and develop
 CORRECTION- helping members who are having problems with social laws or mores
 SOCIALIZATION- helping members learn how to get along with others and what is socially
acceptable.
 PREVENTION- helping members develop and function at an optimal level and helping them
prepare for events that are likely to occur.
 SOCIAL ACTION- helping members change their environment
 PROBLEM-SOLVING- helping members resolve complex issues and concerns
 Developing social values- helping members develop a humanistic approach to living.
TREATMENT GROUPS
Support Groups
Support groups can be distinguished from the other groups using supportive intervention strategies by
their primary goals: to foster mutual aid, to help members cope with stressful life events, and to revitalize
and enhance member’s coping abilities so they can effectively adapt to cope with future stressful life
events. Examples (Toseland and Rivas)
 A group of children meeting at school to discuss the effects of divorce on their lives
 A group of people diagnosed with cancer, and their families, discussing the effects of the disease
and how to cope it with it.
Educational Groups
The primary purpose of educational groups is to help members learn new information and skills,
Educational groups are used in a variety of settings, including treatment agencies, schools, nursing homes,
correctional institutions, and hospitals. Examples of educational groups include the following:
 An adolescent sexuality group sponsored by a family planning agency
 A wellness-in-the-workplace group designed by a social worker directing and employee
assistance program.
Growth Groups
Growth-oriented groups offer opportunities for members to become aware of, expand, and change their
thoughts, feelings, and behaviors regarding themselves and others. The group is used as a vehicle to
develop members’ capabilities to the fullest. Growth groups focus on promoting socioemeotional health
rather than remediating socioemotional illness. Examples are:
 An encounter group for married couples

 A values-clarification group for adolescents
Therapy Groups
Therapy groups help members change their behaviour, cope with and ameliorate personal problems, or
rehabilitate themselves after physical, psychological, or social trauma. Although there is often an
emphasis on support, therapy groups are distinguished from support groups by their focus on remediation
and rehabilitation. Example of this are;
 A psychotherapy groups for outpatients at a community mental health center

 A group, sponsored by a voluntary health association, for people who want to stop smoking
Socialization Groups
Socialization groups help members learn social skills and socially accepted behaviour patterns so they
can function effectively in the community. Socialization groups frequently use program activities such as
games, role plays, or outings to help members accomplish individual goals (Middleman;Whittaker)
 A Ctholic Youth Organization (CYO) activity group

 A social club for outpatients of a psychiatric center.
TASK GROUPS
Task Groups can have three primary purposes:
1) Meeting client needs
2) Meeting organizational needs
3) Meeting community needs
Meeting client needs
Teams- a number of individual staff members, each of whom possesses particular knowledge and skills,
who come together to share their expertise with one another for a particular purpose. (Toseland, Palmer-
Gameles & Chapman, 1986)
Treatment Coference- meet the pupose of developing, monitoring, and coordinating treatment plans
for a particular client or client system. Members consider the client’s situation and decide on a plan for
working with the client. Examples are.
 A group of community mental health professionals considering treatment methods for a young
man experiencing severe depression.
 A group of child-care workers, social workers, nurses, and a psychiatrist determining a treatment
plan for a child in residential treatment.
Staff Development Groups – its purpose is to improve services to clients by developing, updating, and
refreshing worker’s skills. It provide workers with an opportunity to learn about new treatment
approaches, resources, and community services; to practice new skills; and to review and learn from their
previous work with the clients . Examples are;
 A group of professional who attend a series of seminars about pharmacology offered by a

regional psychiatric center.\\
Group to Meet Organizational needs
Committees- it is made up of people who are appointed or elected to the group. Their task is to
“accomplish a charge” (Pincus &Minahan, 1973) that is delegated to the committee from a higher
authority such as organizational by laws or an agency executive. Example, a group of young people
responsible for recommending activities for the local community center.
Cabinets- designed to provid advice and expertise about policy issues to chief executive officers or other
high-level administrators. Policies procedures, and practices that affect the entire organization are
discussed, developed, or modified in cabinets before being announced by a senior administrative officer.
Example, a meeting of department heads in a country social services department.
Board of Directors- there are two types of directors the advisory board and governing board. The
governing boards are the steward of the public trust and are accountable to the state government that
granted the organization its charter; to federal government which granted tax-exempt status; and
ultimately; to the public, whom the organiational serves.
Group to Meet Community Needs
Social Action Groups- they are often referred to as “grassroots” organizations because they arise from the
concerns of individuals in the community who may have little individual power or status. They empower
members to engage in collative action and planned change efforts to alter some aspect of their social or
physical environment. Example, a group of social workers lobbying fro increases funding for social
services.
Coalitions- a group of organizational, social actions groups, or individual that come together to exert
influence by sharing resources and expertise. E.g. a group of family planning and community and health
care clinics who have formed a pro-choice coalition to influence state and federal legislation on abortion.
Delegate Councils- are compose for the purposes of facilitating interagency communication and
cooperation, studying community wide social issues or social problem, engaging in collective social action,
and governing large organizational large organizations. Example; a number of agency representatives
who meet monthly to improve interagency communication.
References:
Social Work Groups, Thelma Lee-Mendoza 1999
Social Work Practice by Rex A. Skidmore
An Introduction to Group Work Practice 4th edition, Ronald W. Toseland and Robert F. Rivas

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What are the different types of groups discussed?

What are the different purposes of task groups?

Social Work Practice with Groups

Prepared by Tikiko, Fitzerald C.

THE FOCUS OF GROUP WORK PRACTICE

According to Klein, group purposes can includethe following:

 An encounter group for married couples

 A psychotherapy groups for outpatients at a community mental health center

 A Ctholic Youth Organization (CYO) activity group

 A group of professional who attend a series of seminars about pharmacology offered by a

Social Work Groups, Thelma Lee-Mendoza 1999

Social Work Practice by Rex A. Skidmore

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