Social Group Work: Definition, Meaning, Concept and Focus of the Practice

(caps)Group work is a method of group leadership used in organizing and conducting various types of group activities. Group work entails the deliberate use of intervention strategies and group processes to accomplish individual, group, and community goals using the value base and the ethical practice principles of the social work profession. As one prepares to become an effective social work practitioner, it is important to realize the effect that groups have on people’s lives. It is not possible to be a member of a society without becoming a member or leader of groups and being inf luenced by others without direct participation. Internet groups are also becoming more popular as people choose to meet others in virtually as well as face-to-face. Although it is possible to live in an isolated manner or on the fringes of face-to-face and virtual groups, our social nature makes this neither desirable nor healthy.

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Meaning of Group Work

Social group work is a method of social work practice that focuses on working with groups of individuals to address their common needs, concerns, and goals within a supportive and collaborative environment. This approach recognizes that people often experience similar challenges and can benefit from mutual support, learning, and empowerment within a group setting. However, group work is a neglected area of social work practice, especially practice with task groups. Most social workers spend a great deal of time in teams, treatment conferences, and committees, and many social workers have leadership responsibilities in these groups. Group work is also essential for effective macro social work practice.    

Groups provide the structure on which communities and the larger society are built. They provide formal and informal structure in the workplace. They also provide a means through which relationships with significant others are carried out. Participation in family groups, peer groups, and classroom groups helps members learn acceptable norms of social behavior, engage in satisfying social relationships, identify personal goals, and derive a variety of other benefits that result from participating in closely knit social systems. Experiences in social, church, recreation, and other work groups are essential in the development and maintenance of people and society.

Group work is a series of activities carried out by the worker during the life of a group. Ronald W. Toseland and Robert F. Rivas conceptualize these activities as being a part of six developmental stages:

1. Planning

2. Beginning

3. Assessment

4. Middle

5. Ending

6. Evaluation (alert-success)

Groups exhibit certain properties and processes during each stage of their development. The group worker’s task is to engage in activities that facilitate the growth and development of the group and its members during each developmental stage.

Definition of Group Work

A definition of social work prepared by the National association of Social workers in 1956 considers five attributes as being basic to the practice of social work. These attributes are:

1) Values

2) Purpose

3) Sanction

4) Knowledge

5) Method(alert-success)

All these attributes influence each other. Values of social work practice influences the purpose of social work and method used to achieve them. Although there are divergent approaches to group work within the social work profession and allied disciplines, a generalist approach suggests that each approach has its merits and particular practice applications. Group work can be defined as

Goal-directed activity with small treatment and task groups aimed at meeting socio-emotional needs and accomplishing tasks. This activity is directed to individual members of a group and to the group as a whole within a system of service delivery and a larger community and societal environment. (alert-success)

The definition describes group work as goal-directed activity that refers to planned, orderly worker activities carried out in the context of professional practice with people. Goal-directed activity has many purposes. For example, group workers may aim to support or educate members, help them socialize and achieve personal growth, or provide treatment for their problems and concerns.

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Other Definitions

1. Social group work is a psycho-social process which is concerned no less than with developing leadership ability and cooperation than with building on the interests of the group for a social purpose (Hamilton – 1949).

2. Social group work is a method through which individuals in groups in social agency settings are helped by worker who guides their interaction in programme activities so that they may relate themselves to others and experience growth opportunities in accordance with their needs and capacities (Trecker – 1955).

3. Social group work is a method of social work, which helps individuals to enhance their social functioning through purposeful group experiences and to cope more effectively with their personal, group and community problems (Konopka-1963).

4. Social Group Work is used for the purpose of reducing or eliminating roadblocks to social interaction and accomplishing desirable social goals (Skidmore – 1988)

5. Group work provides a context in which individuals help each other; it is a method of helping groups as well as helping individuals; and it can enable individuals and groups to influence and change personal, group, and organizational and community problems (Allan Brown) (alert-success)

Primary Focus of Group Work Practice

Social work practitioners use group work skills to help meet the needs of individual group members, the group as a whole, and the community. In this text, group work involves the following elements.

1. Practice with a broad range of treatment and task groups
2. Generalist practice based on a set of core competencies described in the Education Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) of the Council on Social Work Education (2015)
3.  A focus on individual group members, the group as a whole, and the group’s environment
4. Critical thinking and evidence-based practice when it exists for a particular practice problem or issue
5. Application of foundation knowledge and skills from generalist social work practice to a broad range of leadership and membership situations
6. Specialized knowledge and skills based on a comprehensive assessment of the needs of particular members and groups
7. Recognition of the interactional and situational nature of leadership

    Social group work practitioners typically use a range of methods and techniques to facilitate group processes and achieve desired outcomes, such as group discussions, activities, exercises, problem-solving strategies, and role-playing exercises. They also emphasize the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where members feel valued, respected, and empowered to participate actively in the group's activities. Overall, social group work aims to harness the collective strengths and resources of group members to address common challenges, promote social change, and improve individual and collective well-being.