SOCIAL GROUP WORK Semester I11PSW BATCH 2011 METHODS OF SOCIAL WORK: 1.

SOCIAL CASE WORK 2 3 4 5 SOCIAL GROUP WORK COMMUNITY ORGANISATION SOCIAL ACTION SOCIAL RESEARCH

SOCIAL ADMINISTRATION SOCIAL GROUP WORK Human beings do not live alone They grow up in families, communities, tribes Group life is basic to any Human being Group: Any collection of social beings who enter into distinctive social relationships with one another.  Group involves mutual and reciprocal give and take .  The collection of those individuals who are interested in the same pursuits or who favour the same policy is called a group. Therefore, another important area of social work is social group work which deals with individuals as members of group. Definition Social group work is a process and method through which individuals and groups in social agency settings are helped by a worker to relate themselves to other people and to experience growth and opportunities in accordance with their needs and capacities . In social group work, the group itself is utilised by the individual, with the help of the worker, as primary means of personality growth, change and development. The worker is interested in helping to bring about individual growth and social development for the group as a whole as a result of guided group-interaction. Functions of Group Work:

 It always focuses the individual in the group and group itself is major tool for furthering socially desirable objectives.  It is carried on with voluntary groups in the setting of social agency may be in educational, recreational or religious fields.  It is a helping process with dual purpose of individual and group growth.  It has a worker whose role is that of enabler and a helping person. So, the individual, group worker, and the agency are the main constituents of group work process. Settings: ( to discuss Basic Philosophy underlying Group Work: 1. Group life is the most fundamental thing for a man to be called as a social animal, because it is due to group living that a man is socialized. 2Social work believes that individuals and groups can be helped towards growth and changes in personality and attitude provided suitable conditions are created 3. Mutual acceptance is the basis of social group work which has its roots in democracy. 4. It is easier to change individuals formed into group than to change any one of them separately. Purpose of Group Work: a. To teach the individuals to live and work together and to participate in the activities of a group for their intellectual, emotional and physical growth. B To solve problems of adjustment by development of individual s personality through the group process c. To prepare the individuals to learn to share responsibility in the working of democracy as active citizens. d. To give opportunity to those who have potentialities of leadership. e. To make best use of leisure time of the people. f. To learn division of labour and specialization of roles. g. To provide a substitute for family in institutions and in industrial towns in order to get emotional security and an opportunity for adjustment with secondary group. h. To widen one s horizon and social consciousness, create friendship, preserve hobbies and learn skills.

i.

As a remedial role to help the social adjustment of persons, group therapy helps patients in need of physical, mental and emotional adjustment.

j. To prepare the people for social change. PRINCIPLES OF GROUP WORK 1. Planned Group Formation 2. Evolving specific Objectives 3. Purposeful Worker-Group relationship 4. Continuous individualization in a group 5. Guided Group interaction 6. Organization of group on democratic basis 7. 7. Group as flexible functional organization 8. 8. Progressive Programme development 9. 9. Utilization of existing resources 10. 10. Continuous evaluation of group s work. Group Development 1. Prompt and constant attendance 2. Definite decision of meeting at a certain time and place. 3. Willingness to take responsibility 4. Existence of we feelings; sense of belonging to the group 5. Enthusiastic demand for membership and wider participation 6. Existence of informal relationship among the group members. 7. Desire to have complex programs 8. Willingness to extend relations with other groups and agencies 9. Willingness to take leadership responsibility 10. Existence of feeling of dependence in the group. ROLE OF A GROUP WORKER

The role of Group Worker is that of an enabler for the group and he is a link between the group and the agency. The group worker helps the group to: 1. ..determine its objectives/goals 2. ..develop group feeling and consciousness 3. ..identify personal problems and help them solve ..to help the individual to maintain relationship with group members

CASE WORK vs GROUP WORK

CASE WORK FOCUS Individual

GROUP WORK

- Individual & the group as a whole

POINTS OF CONTACT At breakdown Or Maladjustment -Effective functioning of the group

CASE WORK GOALS Readjustment to society

GROUP WORK

-Develop personality Social action

Methods & Activities Interviewing Observation Investigation Group games Arts and Crafts Picnics

CASE WORK Diagnosis Recording Treatment Follow-up

GROUP WORK Social education Literacy Dramatics Visits Discussions Audi-visual aids Case work Evaluation

SOCIAL GROUP WORK : Basic Skills

SGW is a method in the profession of social work through which individuals in social agency groups are helped by a worker to relate themselves to others and to experience growth opportunities that are in accordance with their needs and capacities. Method means the purposeful use of insights and understandings based upon a body of knowledge and principles. Skill is the workers capacity to apply knowledge and understanding to a given situation. Every worker must have skill in working as a part of an agency and community setting. The worker must know the agency and the community and must also possess a growing awareness of oneself as well as the group. Basic skills in social group work: Skill in Establishing Purposeful Relationships. a) The Group worker must be skillful in gaining the b) acceptance of the group and in relating himself to the group on a positive professional basis. b) Worker must be skillful in helping individuals in the group to accept one another and to join with the group in common purpose.

2. Skill in Analysing the Group Situation 3. Skill in Participating with the group. 4. Skill in dealing with Group Feeling. 5. Skill in Programme Development. 6. Skill in using Agency and Community resources. 7. Skill in Evaluation.

y Professional Social work skills represent the workers conscious

application of knowledge, understanding, and principles in working with individuals and groups in defined situations in such a way that change takes place in the behaviour of the individuals and the group. SOCIAL GROUP WORK : Basic Skills

SGW is a method in the profession of social work through which individuals in social agency groups are helped by a worker to relate themselves to others and to experience growth opportunities that are in accordance with their needs and capacities. Method means the purposeful use of insights and understandings based upon a body of knowledge and principles. Skill is the workers capacity to apply knowledge and understanding to a given situation. Every worker must have skill in working as a part of an agency and community setting.

The worker must know the agency and the community and must also possess a growing awareness of oneself as well as the group. Basic skills in social group work:

Skill in Establishing Purposeful Relationships. a) The Group worker must be skillful in gaining the acceptance of the group and in relating himself to the group on a positive professional basis. b) Worker must be skillful in helping individuals in the group to accept one another and to join with the group in common purpose.

2. Skill in Analysing the Group Situation 3. Skill in Participating with the group. 4. Skill in dealing with Group Feeling. 5. Skill in Programme Development. 6. Skill in using Agency and Community resources. 7. Skill in Evaluation.

y Professional Social work skills represent the workers conscious

application of knowledge, understanding, and principles in working with individuals and groups in defined situations in such a way that change takes place in the behaviour of the individuals and the group.