SOCIAL WORK

1. Paper : Social Group Work
Topic: Role of Group Worker
in Group Work Process
Gireesha C R
Assistant Professor
Department of Social Work
G F G C Bellare, Sullia Tq
D. Kannada District
(Mangalore University)

2. 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 or community problems.
(Konapka-1963)
 Definitions:

3. (In Indian context) Social Group Work will refer to working with a small
group (members ranging from 7-10) to a medium size group (members
ranging from 10-20) for a variety of purposes beginning from recreation to
behavior modification on the one hand and accomplishing tasks including
social change and development on the other, with a variety of clients
ranging from children to elderly. The worker makes use of the expertise in
human relationships to help these groups to achieve the group goals in a
participatory manner while paying adequate attention to individual needs
and social norms.
(H.Y.Siddiqui -2008).
 Social Group Work is a method through which individuals in
groups and in agency settings are helped by a 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 to
the end of the individual, group and community development.
(H.B.Trecker -1955)

4. Group Process
The Groups are never static.
The group members change in time, and in relation to specific
situations.
The changing interactions and relationships as well.
All the developments and changes taking place in group are
called group process.

5. The Social Group Worker’s Role in Group Process
Process Role
 Forming/Pre affiliation
 Members' behavior will be marked by an
approach-avoidance stance regarding
close involvement and interactions
marked by intimacy will be rare.
 The members will allude to anxiety,
ambivalence and uncertainty about the
group.
 Dependence on the leader(s) will be
high, alternating with a climate of
"flight" from the group situation.
 Self-disclosure and sharing of therapy
goals will eventually emerge, but
tentatively.
 Educator:
 Giving information to group members
 Teaching them new skills
 Clarifying group goals and objectives
Enabler:
 He helps individuals or groups to
articulate their needs
 Clarify and identify their problems,
 Helps members revitalize and mobilize
their own strengths and resources
Communicator and Interpreter:
 Helps the group or members to understand
what is being communicated.
 Has to interpret or reword the phrases to
explain to the members

6. The Social Group Worker’s Role in Group Process
Process Role
 Storming/Power and
Control
 The members now begin to
engage emotionally.
 Subgroups may emerge.
 Conflict and the expression of
negative feelings.
 Seeking identification and
conflict for power.
 Mediator:
 Helps resolve disputes, conflicts,
 Settling opposing points of view
within the group or between a
member and some other person.
 Intervention in finding
compromises
 Reconcile differences
 Initiator:
 Calls attention to a problem
 Realize that some problems can
be recognized in advance
 Initiate discussion or action on
the problem area.

7. The Social Group Worker’s Role in Group Process
Process Role
 Norming/Intimacy
 Member trust, commitment and
willingness to cooperate will
increase.
 Free communication and
feedback.
 Greater cohesion and openness.
 Encourage problem-solving in an
ongoing manner.
 Facilitator:
 Serves as a leader for group
activity.
 Provides the methodological
help.
 express his/her own opinion
when required.
Empowerer:
 Helps the individuals and groups
to increase their personal and
interpersonal strength.
 Influence through improving
their circumstances.

8. The Social Group Worker’s Role in Group Process
Process Role
 Performing/Differentiation:
The group has achieved maturity
All the members are in action
clearer recognition among the
members of the group's
strengths and limitations
The process is marked by the open
expression and acceptance of
interdependence and differences
between individuals.
Advocate:
 The worker advocates for a group in
providing services
 Arguing the correctness of the
client’s need and request
 Challenging the institution’s decision
not to provide services.
Activist:
 Seeks change; often the objective
involves a shift in power and
resources to a disadvantaged group
 Concerned about social injustice,
inequity, and deprivation
Negotiator:
 Bargaining and compromise to arrive
at mutually acceptable agreements
 Negotiating about time, venue,
resources, etc. with group members,
agency or community.

9. The Social Group Worker’s Role in Group Process
Process
Role
Adjourning/Separation:
 Expressions of both sadness
and appreciation are common
at this stage.
 Facilitates a systematic review
and evaluation of the group's
progress
 With an ending in sight, the
group experiences an upheaval
of sadness, anxiety and anger.
No role to play:
 The leader's primary task is to
assist with the expression of
feelings and attention to
unfinished business.
 Facilitates involvement in the
process of saying goodbye.

10. Thank You