Social Group Work process and its types
Social work at its early stage of development thrived on the benevolence of prosperous people. These benignant used to help the poor the disabled and the destitute due to their religious emotions and inspirations various voluntary agencies institutions established hospitals asylums and inns. The main aim of social work is to increase human happiness in general in short the aim of social work is to help themselves in present society ,social work provides many services for the people especially children youth,woman,family,labours,aged,disabled,handicapped. Destitutes,dependentsThe various programsof social work are carried out through different social service agencies
1. Planning stage
2. Beginning stage
3. Middle stage
4. Ending stage
Planning Stage
Planning stage.-It is mostly theoretical preparation of the Group work process It makes the social Group Workers involvement in Group attempt It can also called as pre-group planning The planning takes more in Beginning stage than middle and ending phase Here the group worker has to focus on the individual member considering their motivations and expectations It is nothing but consists of pre-group planning and second stage consists of beginning stage-middle stage-ending In the Beginning stage-worker carries out detailed assessment of social group
They are nine basic components of planning
1. Planning Process
2. Establish Group Purpose
3. Assess potential sponsorship & membership
4. Recruiting members
5. Composing the groups
6. Orienting members
7. Contracting
8. Preparing the environment
9. Writing the group proposal
Planning Process
It is nothing but consists of Pre-Group planning and second stage consists of beginning stage –middle stage –ending stage. In the Beginning stage worker carries out detailed assessment of individual members of the Group the assessment leads to additional planning activities throughout the middle and ending stage of the group
Establish Groups Purpose.
Should encompass different individuals goals .worker should provide clear statement of group purpose for example four wifes and 1H concepts : A brief statement of groups purpose generally include information on why the group is meeting how the group might conducting its work what the range of individual goal or task might be in the groups sources like group worker Agency staff potential clients
Assess Potential sponsorship & membership
Assess potential sponship determines the level of support and resources available to group the assessment of potential membership assists the worker in making an early estimate of group potential viability
Recruiting Members
Recruiting procedures should ensure an adequate number of potential member for the group Recruitment process the worker should consider about the potential members should identified and referred to the group Members can be recruited within the agency or from the community or social events
Composing the Group
After recruiting the potential membership of group the worker should compose the group In carrying out this process the worker chooses members according to their needs and according to the requirements of groups as a whole Member purpose and certain personal characteristics should be similar for being in the group Common purpose may be need ,problem ,tasks,personal characteristics like age education culture ,background group task communication ability, problems common
Orienting Members
It is through the interview process to create rapport and collect information about the client and relationship between two. Explaining the prupose of the group. Broad te4ntative purpose of the group.Allow members to ask questions about the group. Familiarise the members about the group procedure,screening members for appropriateness, that their needs are matching with the purpose of group worker may even develop or including or excluding any members.
Contracting
The worker begins contracting process. It is the result from the group dynamic interaction of the worker and members during the beginning stage of the group. A contract may be verbal or written agreement between 2 or more members of the group. In legal contract, each party agrees to provide something. Verbal contract-during the group work process or case work process. Written contract-recruiting worker’s for achieving something in the organization.
Preparing the Environment
Preparing the physical settings – Residential – furniture – carpet- lands- worktable- wallpic- space-food- purpose to avoid the physical discomfort and avoid anxiety, stress irritability of the members. Securing financial supports – transparency in the group financial accounts and explore the financing arrangement with the group’s sponsoring agencies- salary of the agency member – meeting cost- day to day expenditure etc Grants and aid received. Ledger and cost and accounting. Securing special arrangements For disabled members, senior citizens, women etc special arrangements should be made in transport, staying safety and other barrier free environment.
Writing the Group Proposal
For planning of group formation, the worker might prepare proposal. It is essential to obtain sponsorship from other agency or obtaining fund from various sources. A written proposal can also inform potential members about the group. Spending time to organize and write a group proposal can also aid the worker in preparing for meetings. Sources are required for writing proposal: treatment or task group, detailed outline, for most groups, 1 or 2 pages should be the whole content.
Beginning Stage:
The group worker’s central task is to ensure that a group develops pattern of relating and pattern of task acconmplisment that facilitate functionaing as the group moves toward its middle stage of development It contains 2 important parts. First part, the worker and the members plan in more detail hoe to accomplish the overall group purpose. Secondly, the worker carries out detailed assessment of inditicudal memebrs of the group.
Intake
THE frist meeting is called intake, First few meetings is called as intake. It provides a stimulating ezperience to the members. Members have their expectations about the group. Every member was making assessment based on their dress and the personal appearance . Here the indiciduals are unique. The limit of space, group load, and budgets are always present when we took the source of the agency life.
Study
Basic to all social work. The Social Group worker must study the individual, group of the community, where he goes to work and to understand their behavior of that particular group, individual for community and the motivation will present in the situation.
Variables involved in the Group worker process:
Collection of Geographical area with which he will work and render service
It attempt to understand basic physical, social and cultural facts about his area and to use such information planning its work.
Constantly collect and analyzing the basic data on geographical data
Search facts on population that is women, men and children. Analyze possibility of applying skill, knowledge and attitude .Analyze the possibility of available resources in the agency and outside agency
Diagnosis (Assessment of Social Functioning).
Meaning of Diagnosis – The complexity of human behavior as well as the complexity of Group dynamics, assessment is of the most challenging as per Group work practice. For complete & through assessment, the assess individual group member, the goupas a whole, the group enviorment.
Components of the Assessment (6 stages)
1. Assessment process
2. Assessing the funds of group members
3. Assessing the funds of group as whole
4. Methods of assesss group as a whole
5. Assessing the groups environment
6. Linking assessment to intervention
Middle Phase
The main purpose of the middle stage is foucsd on goal achievemewnt. Here the contracts are negotiated and renogtiated, members establish their positions in relations to on another
Steps involving the middle stage - Leading treatment groups, interventions, problem solving approach.
Leading treatmentgroups:It consists of 4 stages as follows
1. Preparing for group meetings – prepare agenda and start & end
2. Structuring the group’s work. Role play and group discussion.
3. Helping members achieve their goals: awareness about goals, remove obstacles use audio visual aid, film, drama, etc
4. Monitoring and evaluating the group’s progress: PAS it is concurrent evaluation. It is for the curiosity and also for the changing the performance.
Interventions:
It is nothing but intervening with individual group members. The types of interventionsavailable in the group work process
1. Interpersonal intervention: it is focused on members cognitions and affects that is, their thoughts, believes values, feelings, sensations and emotions.
2. Intrapersonal intervention: it is focused on helping process of the members to:
A) Identify and discriminate among thoughts, feelings, behaviors ex feed backs form.
B) Recognize associations between specific thoughts, feelings and behavior – Role play, street, theatre.
C) Analyze the rationality of thoughts and beliefs.
D) Change distorted or irrational thoughts and beliefs
Enviormental intervention
It is nothing but helping the persons with some material resource at the place is the environmental interventions. It helps the members to change or modify the psychosocial and physical situation In which they live. It is important but often neglected social work practice.
Steps involved in the environment interventions:
1. Connecting members to the concrete resources
2. Expanding members social networks
3. Modifying the contingencies- that results when the members perform desired behavior
4. Planning physical environment to facilitate members foal achievement.
Problem solving approach
v Minimizing irrational beliefs about problematic situations.
v Create willingness to work on problems
v Wiping out inability tendencies
v Use members perceptions and experiences – brain storming. It refers to free meaning, let their be quantity emphasis-re-arrangement and improvement of ideas.
Ending Stage
In the ending phase evaluation and termination and are 2 important components
Evaluation:
It is the process of obtaining information about the effects of single intervention of the effect of the total group experience.
Why we have to evaluate:
1) to check objectives is going on or not
2) To assess the ability of the agency effectiveness, effiency, training and results.
3) Time available or not for evaliuation
4) Match their information needs, available time and an appropriate method for avaluation their practice.
Evaluation methods:
Four types of evaluation methods as follows
1) Planning a group: Obtain programme information& Need assessment.
2) Monitoring a group:
a)Monitoring methods:
1) Counting discrete behaviors.
2) Keeping check list, a log, or a journal of events that occurs before-during-after a behavior & task is being monitored.
3) Recording ratings of feelings states on self- anchored rating scales.
b) Monitoring by the social group worker: it is based on various types of recording process.
c) Monitoring by the group member: self monitoring process
3. Developing a group: It is divided into two types as follows
a)Single system method: single subject research design to evaluate the colleged data and time.
b) Case study methods: it is useful to developing a new group programs or in improving current programs: it is generally qualitative case studies rely on precise descriptions, accurate observations and detailed analyze of single case.
4. Testing the Efficiency and effectiveness of the group:
a) Effectiveness: Give more information to workers to gain objective feedback about the helpfulness of the being used.
b) Efficiency: evaluation coipres the benefits of a group program to its cost.
Ending Group meetings and Ending group as a whole
1) Ending Group meetings include:
A) Closing the work
B) Arranging another meeting
C) Preparting summary or report of the groupls work
D) Planning for futre group actions
2) Major tasks in ending the group as whole
A) Mainting and generatlizing change efforts.
B) Evaluating the work of the group;
C) Reduing group attraction and promoting independent member funtionaing
D) Helping members with their feelings about ending
E) Planning for the future
F) Making effective refferals.
The ending phase is theciritcail time in the life of a group. During the ending phase, the work of htegroup is conbsiladated and lasting impresions are made about efficacnscy of the entire groupl experience. Ending can either be planned or unplanned. Unfortunately in many volume groupls, unplanned termination are fairly commong.
Conclusion
In order to have a best result in group work, recordings are very important. It is useful to realize what is needed to the better functioning of group and its individual needs. Therefore a group work recording is closely tied to individuals group and to find solutions to its problems.
Principles of Social Group Work
Social group work is a method which is connected with a group constituted by individuals. Its central focus is a group rather than individual. In other words, social group work is a very useful devise for servicing the group or collective interests. The principle aim of this method is to develop the entire group. Therefore during the process of social group work, emphasis is given on social adjustment of collectivity. Group work differs from case work in that it is not necessarily concerned with stress situations or with lessing maladjustments, through there is increasing recognition that some problems in relationships which create barriers preventing the individual from participating normally in the demands of social living are more effectively lessened by the use of group process than by individual case work.
Group work as such is ‘a method by which the group worker enables various types of groups function in such a way that both group interaction and programme activities. Contribute to the growth of the individuals and the achievement of desirable social goals’. This holds true especially for children play groups and youth groups which help young people to find their way into the adult world. Group work also is a matrix from which the leadership also emerges.
PRINCIPLES OF GROUP WORK
All of us have a need to belong and when the belonging is tied with significance and worth whileness we are enabled to rise above our personal feelings and to lose and find ourselves in the joint enterprise. The most helpful group worker is the one who can use basic principles in a creative and disciplined way. These principles are :
INDIVIDUALISATION IN GROUP
It is the recognition and subsequent action in relation to the unique difference of each individual. The group worker has to understand each individual and to help each individual in regard to his own specific needs as well as in regard to the needs of the total group and the society in which he exists.
INDIVIDUALISATION OF GROUP
The group worker realises that a group is more than the sum of its individuals . Its characteristics are related to the group’s goal and composition. This principle includes the skill in diagnosing a group and in acting according to this diagnosis as well as the understanding of the individual.
GENUINE ACCEPTANCE OFE EACH INDIVIDUAL WITH HIS UNIQUE STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS
Acceptance includes the profession’s value orientation and the respect for each individual. He does not necessarily approve of each individual’s actions or qualities, infact he does use some value system to assess them as ‘strength’ or as ‘weakness’. He accepts the individual in his totality.
ESTABLISHMENT OF A PURPOSEFUL HELPING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GROUP WORKER AND GROUP MEMBERS
Group worker practice is based on the assumption that change in an individual can occur only through interaction with others. To accomplish change in a beneficial direction people need help and in certain instances professional help.
ENCOURAGEMENT AND ENABLING OF HELPFUL AND CO-OPERATIVE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GROUP MEMBERS.
It is recognised in group work that relationships between the members of the group have as much importance as individual relationship to the group worker. These relationships can move in a negative or positive direction. It is the group worker’s role to work towards relationships between members which become beneficial to them.
APPROPRIATE MODIFICATION OF THE GROUP PROCESS
The group process is expressed in inter-relationship between group members, the formation of sub-groups, the establishment of bond, the development of leadership, the creation of its dates, etc. The group worker must see these constellations, assess them diagnostically and know when to work with them, strengthen them or help to change them.
ENCOURAGEMENT OF EACH MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE ACCORDIG TO THE STAGE OF THE CAPACITY. ENABLING HIM TO BECOME MORE CAPABLE.
The capacity to participate varies from individual to individual. The group worker must accept the stage of individual’s capacity to participate, help him participate on his own level without feeling pushed or embarrassed and guide him into a heal there or more capable stage.
ENABLING MEMBERS TO INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN THE PROCESS OF PROBLEM SOLVING
The group worker does not solve problems for the group. He must not play the omniscient person who always know what is best for individual members or for the group as a whole. He helps members to become part of problem solving and to find their own solutions in interaction with others and the group worker.
ENABLING GROUP MEMBERS TO EXPERIENCE INCREASINGLY SATISFACTORY FORMS OF WORKING THROUGH CONFLICTS
This principle relates to forms of conflict solving in group interaction and in the individual group as a whole may be enabled by the group worker to move from ‘slugging out’ a difference of opinion to solving conflicts by talking them out, learning to compromise or to use different democratic methods.
PROVISION OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW AND DIFFEREING EXPERIENCE IN RELATIONSHIPS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
Working through of new relationships is part of daily human life. Group workers work with this problem when special helps is needed, as for instance, when people move from rural to urban communities, when racial groups meet which have never met before or have met only in the relationship between master and servant not as equals nor as friends or neighbours. ‘Accomplishment’ is assumed to be one of the major ingredients of general mental health. It is the group worker’s responsibility to allow for this vital experience by providing opportunities for accomplishment to individual members as well as the whole group.
JUDICIAL USE OF LIMITATIONS RELATED TO THE DIAGNOSTIC ASESSMENT OF EACH INDIVIDUAL AND TOTAL SITUATION.
Limitations are an important part of the intelligent and purposeful work with individuals as the group. This principle includes diagnostic thinking and skillful use of all the media available to the group worker, such as relationship, use of the group process, programme and so forth.
PURPOSEFUL AND DIFFERENTIAL USE OF PROGRAMME ACCORDING TO DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS, GROUP PRUPOSE AND APPROPRIATE SOCIAL GOALS
Programme is meant any activity which the group does in the present of the group worker during the course of group meetings. These activities must not be planned according to the particular needs or interests of the group worker himself buy only with reference to the group members. This principle includes diagnosis of individual and group needs and their assessment in relation to group and agency purpose as well as to professional values and ethics of human relationships.
ONGOING EVALUATION OF INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PROGRESS
Periodic evaluations or assessments are part of the group work method. They help to keep the group worker’s efforts purposeful and flexible. They are also frequently shared with the members of the group and help them to move towards individual or group goals.
WARM, HAMANE AND DISCIPLINED USE OF SELF ON THE PART OF GROUP WORKER.
This principle demands of the group worker a discipline which prevents him from using the group for his own personal satisfaction. Yet it also requires him to be a real person, not just a cold, impersonal or shadowy observer.
CONCLUSION
The key values of social group work are ethical ones, since they concern themselves with inter personal the relationship. All social group work agree on the value of co-operation. In the framework of a highly competitive society social group work method consciously includes provision for positive experience in co-operating with each other. In the social group work, the group worker enables a group to function in such a manner so as to achieve the aims of social progress. From this point of view, the social group worker has to discharge many functions.
It is increasingly accepted that knowledge of group processes is necessary for all social workers. This is so because individual in a variety of group situations, while social workers themselves are also members of groups in a social agency and have various inter-agency contacts and responsibilities.
Types of groups and conflict
Society consists of groups. A social group exists when two or more people are in direct or indirect contact and communication. The members of the group stimulate and respond to one another in some meaningful way. This mutual stimulation and response of individuals and groups is social interaction. Social group is a system of social interaction.
Group work process is the most important in a society. In these group work process, there is some problems and benefits. Types groups are explain the relationship among the peoples living in the society. The groups have some subgroups; all the groups and subgroups are established the relation and rules regulation among the group members. In the group work process, helps man to develop a personality of his own. Personality is the product of the group life. The self that every individual develops, though unique, is itself a product of the group.
Group work process includes bond, Isolation, Rejection, types of groups, subgroups, conflict and control. All the factors involve the group work process and activities. In every group include these are all the elements of a process.
TYPES OF GROUPS
Social groups are not only innumerable but also diverse. It is not possible to study all the groups. A systematic study of groups demands a scientific classification. Classification of any kind in any field is always made on some basis. But social groups are classified not on the basis of any one factor, but on several factors. Different sociologists have classified social groups on the basis of different criteria. Classified variously on the basis of factors such as- racial factors, religious beliefs, territory, nature of government, size, caste, sex, age, class, occupation, blood relations, degree of organization, degree of mobility and so on.
Types of groups
· Primary and secondary groups
· In groups and out groups
· Temporary and Permanent
· Small groups and large groups
· Institutional and Non-institutional groups
· Horizontal and Vertical groups
· Territorial groups Non-territory groups
· Genetic groups and congregate groups
· Formal and Informal groups
· Majority and Minority groups
Other important types of groups are, Organized and Unorganised groups,
Open and closed groups, independent and dependent groups, congregated and dispersed groups, classification on community and association, Crowd groups and collectivities. These are the types of groups for the better group work process.
Primary groups and Secondary groups
On the basis of nature and quality of social interaction groups have been classified into primary and secondary. The name of C.H.Cooley is very much associated with these types though in actuality, he has not made any such types of classification.
Primary groups
Cooley used the term ‘primary groups’ to mean a social group characterized by ‘face –to- face’ relationship, mutual aid and companionship. These are the people with whom we enjoy the more intimate kinds of social relations. The primary groups can be referred to as the ‘we’ groups. They are the chief basis of what is universal in human nature and human ideals. The ‘self’ is developed and molded the primary group relation. Primary groups socialize the individuals. Example for primary groups: family, neighborhood, children’s playground, local brother-hood, friends’ club, peer group etc.
Characteristics of primary groups
1. Dominance of face to face relations.
2. Small size.
3. Physical proximity or nearness.
4. Stability of group
5. Similarity of back ground.
6. Limited self-interest.
7. Intensity of shared interest.
8. Communication
9. Unspecialized character of the primary group.
10. Direct cooperation.
Secondary group
Groups which provide experience lacking intimacy may be called secondary groups. The secondary groups is larger and formal, is specialized and direct in its contacts and relies more for unity and continuance upon the stability of its social organization than does the primary group. Interests are different in the secondary groups. Relations are indirect because secondary groups are bigger in size and the may not stay together.
Characteristics of secondary groups
Dominance of secondary relation
Largeness of the size
No physical basis.
Specific ends or interests
Indirect communication
Group structure
Limited influence on personality.
In-groups and out groups
In-groups and out –groups, W.G.Sumner in his Flokways differentiates between in-groups and out groups. An In-group is simply we group, out groups and they group.
In-groups
In-Groups mean we groups and my groups. There are some groups to which I belong – my family, my church, my race, my sex, my nation- any group which I proceed with the pronoun, these are in-groups because I feel I belong to them.
Out groups
Out groups is the other group, to which I do not belong- other families, occupations, races. For I am outside them, less relative influence
and less affecting behavior. The personal relationship is less in the out group.
Involuntary and voluntary groups
Involuntary groups include the groups such as family, city, the state, community, caste, race etc. and the voluntary groups include political parties, trade union, youth association, religious association, cultural association and so on.
Temporary and Permanent groups
Temporary groups means the groups formed for temporary and non- institutional purpose, crowds, special ceremonies, mobs, public audience and so on... Permanent groups are permanent and institutional nature and include church, state, caste, and the school.
Small and Large groups
Size of the group is small and also large, that will decide the group members and the formers. That based on the nature and objectives of group.
Horizontal and Vertical groups
P.A. Sorokin has divided groups into two major types- the horizontal and the vertical. The former are large, inclusive groups; such as nations, religious organizations and political parties. The latter are smaller divisions, such as economic classes which give the individual his status in society.
Territorial and Non-territorial groups
Territorial groups have a territory of their work, e.g. communities and states and non-territorial group are classes, castes, crowds, and public.
Genetic and Congregate groups
Genetic groups are involuntary in nature and the individuals are born in them. Congregate groups are voluntary in nature and the individuals are at liberty to join or not. Family groups, racial groups, ethnic groups are generic groups, political parties; trade unions, etc. are congregate groups.
Organized and Unorganised groups
Organized groups are often called associational groups. These groups come to be through a formally articulated process known as organization. An organization is an active group device for getting something done. It may be small as the family.
Unorganised group is the social groups that conspicuously lack the attribute of organization. They do not have any well defined pattern of social interaction. It is temporary in nature. Crowd, mob, public are the main examples of unorganised groups.
These are different types of groups, which are establish the relation ship among the group members.
CONFLICT AND CONTROL
Group work process involves conflict and control. Conflict, the person or group thwarts, injures, or destroys the opponent in order to secure a goal or a reward. Control is controlling the group members among the group members.
CONFLICT
Conflict is an ever-present process in human relations. It is one of the forms of struggle between individuals or groups. Conflict takes place whenever a person or group seeks to gain a reward not by surpassing other competitors. “Conflict is the deliberate attempt to oppose, resist, or coerce the will of another or others”.
Nature of conflict
Conflict is universal
It is a conscious action
Conflicts is personal
It is continuous but intermittent
Conflict defines issues
Conflict is conditioned by culture
Conflicts and norms
Conflicts may be personal or impersonal
Ways of resolving conflict
Frustration and insecurity promote conflicts
Role of Conflict
Conflict is a fundamental group unit, the development of society has been marked by a ceaseless struggle. Maintained that a free- harmonious group is practically an impossibility. Groups requires for its formation and growth both harmony and disharmony, association and dissociation. Conflict may have positive as well as negative results. The negative and the positive effects of conflict may be briefly examined here.
Positive effects of conflict
A limited amount of internal conflict may indirect contribute to group stability. An occasional conflict within the group may keep its leadership alert and policies up-to-date.
External conflict brings about social unity and oneness among the members.
Personal conflicts also have their advantages. It is through struggling only that individuals can rise to a higher level.
Negative effects of conflict
Conflict is the most vigorous form of group interaction and evokes the deepest passions and strongest emotions.
Conflict causes social disorder, and confusion.
Conflict does a lot of psychological and moral damage also.
CONTROL
Control means to the control of group over the individuals. It is most important in controlling the peoples themselves. Controlling is most important group process done by the groups.
CONCLUSION
The study of human society is essentially the study of human groups. Society consists of groups of innumerable kinds and variety. No society exists without groups. Groups have become a part and parcel of our life. Man’s life is an enormous extent lived and controlled by groups of different kinds. Groups are complementary to the development of human faculties, traits, and human nature. Man by birth itself has the biological potentiality of becoming man – the social being.