This document discusses techniques for preparing social groups. It begins by defining social group work and outlining factors to consider when forming groups such as establishing a clear purpose, considering members' perspectives, and ensuring group composition allows for homogeneity. The document then discusses additional considerations like whether the group will be open or closed, optimal group size, meeting frequency and duration, and formulating group guidelines. It emphasizes the importance of preliminary individual meetings with prospective members to provide information, promote motivation, ensure needs are being met, allow for individualization, and give people choice.

1. TOPIC:
Techniques for preparing social groups
COURSE INSTRUCTER: Dr. H.R.AHMAD QAZI
M.PHIL SCHOLAR: UZMA BATOOL
SEMESTER: FIRST
DATED: 22-05-2017

2. DEFINITIONS OF SOCIA GROUP WORK
INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS GROUP?
According to oxford dictionary “A number of people or things that are located, gathered, or classed
together.”
WHAT IS GROUP WORK?
Group itself doesn’t have significance unless and until it involved in certain activity, thus the role of
group work come into existence. Group work as defined as
Coyle -1954
Group Work is used within group experience as a means to individual growth and development, and that
the group worker is concerned in developing social responsibility and active citizenship for the
improvement of democratic society
H.B.Trecker -1955
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
Konapka -1963
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.
H.Y.Siddiqui -2008
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
behaviour 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.

3. TOPIC: TECHNIQUES FOR PREPARING SOCIAL GROUPS
FORMATION OF GROUPS
The success or failure of a group rests to a large extent on the thoughtful creation of groups and the
careful selection and preparation of members for the group experience. Approaches to achieve the initial
conditions essential to positive group outcome are presented in this section.
 Establishing group purpose
Clarifying the overall purpose of the group is vital, for the groups objective which influence all the
process that follow. Levine (1967) “Clarity about the purpose for which the group is formed provides a
framework for observation, assessment and action provides a base for group members to develop a bond
and a means for attaining the common goals.”
 The agency’s social worker perspectives
Because every agency have its specific areas of working, social workers must assure that agency
objectives are reflected in the group’s overall purpose. In cases where agency and social worker’s goal
differ, social worker must address such disparities with administration and bargain for general group
purpose that is agreeable to both parties.
 The client’s perspective
 The potential member of a group wants to know
Why I should join a group?
What is in it for me? What will it do for me?
Will it help me?
At the point of entery to a goup, the client’s goal may differ considerably from those of either agency or
the social worker. The social worker must carefully explore clients expectations of the group and help
them to develop individual and collective goals that are realistically achievable.
 Group composition
The factor in selecting group members is whether a candidate is motivated to make changes and is willing
to expend the necessary effort to be a productie group member. Another factor is likelihood of a persons
compatibility with other members in the group. Social workers also address the following in the
composition of groups:
 Age
 Sex marital status
 Ego strength
 Type of problem
Homogeneity versus heterogeneity these characteristics is a vital issue in composing a group. Significant
homogeneity in personal characteristics and purpose for being in the group is necessary to facilitate
communication and group cohesion. Without such homogeneity, members will have little basis for
interacting with each other.

4.  Open versus closed groups
Groups may have either an open format, in which the group remains open to new members, or a closed
format in which no new members are added once the group gets under way.open ended groups are used to
helping clients cope with transitios and crises, providing support.
 Group size
(K. E. Ried, 1991)
The size of the group depends in large part o the purpose, the age of client, and the eeds of members. Five
to 12 members is usually and optimum number for a group with an emphasis on close relationship.
Bertcher and maple 1985
“in general the group should be small enough to allow it to accomplish its purpose, yet large enough to
permit members to have a satisfying experience”
 Frequency and duration of meetings
Close groups benefit from having a terminatin date at the outset, which encourages productive work.
Regarding the possible lifespan of group G. Corry 1990 notes “the duration varies from group to group,
deending on the type of group and the population. The group should be long enough to allow for cohesion
and productive work yet not so long that the group seems to drag on interminably”
 Formulating group guideline
Developing guidelines for behavior among group members should based on mutual agreements of group
worker and groupmembers. Possible voluntary agreements are helpful. Social worker may establish
parameters for the group, merely informing members of behavioural expectations to which they are
expected to adhere. Fromulatig guidelines is a critical process that influence the success of group, these
suggestions are given by writer
 Ask group members to share their vision
 Ask members to identify guidelines for behavior
 Additional group issues to address
 Help giving an help seeking role of members
 Visitors
 New members
 Eating, drinking smoking
 attendance
 Individual contacts with social worker1
1
Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H.,Rooney, G. D., & Strom-Gottfried, (6th edition). Direct social work
practice: theory and skills. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

5. AREAS TO AGREEMENT WITH INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
 The aim for the group as a whole
The researcher found that the group-as-a-whole partly explains the behavior of team members and that
intervening from this perspective could improve negative relationships.
 The aims and goals for individuals within the group
These may be different but consistent with group goals
 Guarantees
What undertakings are being given by the facilitator, regarding their attendance, their commitment, the
protection of vulnerable members, resources, etc
 What will happen in the group
What methods/activities will be used? What experiences will the individual have and what will be
required of him or her in respect of these. For example in relation to physical activities.
 Venue, time, duration
What rules if any, are there to be?
How negotiable are these to be?
Are there any expectations?
What sanctions will there be for rule breaking?
 Confidentiality
What can the members expect of the workers and of each other?
 Other contacts what is to happen about the service users’ contact with other workers in the
agency, or indeed with the facilitator2
2
Lindsay, T., & Orton, S. (2014). Groupwork practicein social work. Learning Matters.

6. PRILIMINARY MEETINGS- WHILE PREPARING FOR SOCIAL GROUPS
It is good practice to meet with each person before a group begins and a number of authors discuss the
advantages of preliminary meetings
1. Introductions
Introductory meeting is helpful to get impression of group members, how they might interact with
each other and any special individual characteristics that you may to taken in account.
2. Provision of information about the group
The information which a worker gives helps in understanding the purpose of and plan of the
group. Detailed information is needed here. People will want to know what benefits the group
will have for them individually, what the activities will be and what demands membership will
make of hem. They also want to know who else is going to be in the group and will already have
some strong ideas about people they already know .confidentiality will certainly be an issue. May
be there will be practical issues. How will they get there? Will to pay their travel expenses.
3. Promoting motivation
If the group members are not motivated, towards the group, especially at this stage, the group will
fail. In this initial contact with worker service user’s attitude will be greatly influenced by the
perception about social worker. If worker appear confident, knowledgeable an enthusiastic about
the group, this will in itself be a motivator. Demonstrating good listening skills and a supportive
intention is helpful too.
4. Ensuring and actual match between the needs of member an service
A meeting is an opportunity to explore the potential member’s motivations and to make sure that
the group is relevant to their needs. People may have responded to the initial offer of a group for a
number of reasons. Not all of these will be appropriate. The individual may be under pressure
from someone else.
5. Individualization
Having individual contact with perspective group members will be affirming and validating both
for them and for you. Service users will be assured that the purpose of social group is to meet
their needs that they are valued as an individual and that can hear their concerns.
6. Giving people choice
It is important that people know that they have choices and that their right to choose is a central
issue for the group facilitators. Allowing and negotiating around choices is one of the important
of being human and is central to the philosophy of group work as an empowering and democratic
method. Workers supportive behavior now will also demonstrate to be flexible about decisions to
be made during the life of group.3
3
Lindsay, T., & Orton, S. (2014). Groupwork practice in social work. LearningMatters.
Chicago

7. professionalism knowledge
skills supervision
Qualitis of social worker
while preparing social
groups
QUALITIES OF A GROUP WORKER WHILE PREPARING FOR SOCIAL GROUPS
Group worker is thus constantly operating at two levels
— the client as an individual and the group as a social
system, whose influence can be utilized to develop client
abilities, modify self-images and perspectives, resolve
conflicts and inculcate new patterns of behavior. These
changes must be stabilized beyond the duration of the
group experience if they are to gain significance.
1. Professionalism
Professionalism is not an easy skill to develop, since it is the make-up of many
different skills all linked together and tends to take years of experience to perfect. The group worker work
with nonprofessional people who hold positions of responsibility in group agencies. Group members want
new workers to be responsible, ethical, and team oriented, and to possess strong communication,
interpersonal, and problem solving skills. So while preparing for social groups professionalism is
essential.
2. Knowledge
Group worker qualification includes both knowledge and skills. Group worker should understand the
implications of group experience for individual behavior and growth. He should know about the nature of
group life, the various forms of group behavior which exists, role of group worker and members while
working in groups. He should know how to provide content for group work programs by offering his
groups a variety of activities. All of the general understanding of group or society is no substitute for
concrete knowledge of the group work activities themselves.
3. Skill
In a general sense skill means the capacity to perform activities. The Webster Dictionary defines it as
“knowledge of and expertness in execution and performance”. Virginia Robinson refers to skill as “the
capacity to set in motion and control a process of change in specific material in such a way that the
change that takes place in the material is affected with the greatest degree of consideration for and
utilization of the quality and capacity of the material”. Trecker defines methods and skill as “Methods
means the purposeful use of insights and understanding based upon a body of knowledge and principles.
Skill is the capacity to apply knowledge and understanding to a given situation. Skills are essential for a
social group worker to become more productive in-group situation.
4. Supervision
Bromberg (1982) defines supervision as a relationship between two people, one of who has the purpose of
using it to improve his work with someone in his or her life and the other who has the purpose of helping
him or her to do this (ibid, cited in, Inskipp & Proctor, 1995).The professionally trained group worker
usually finds supervision an important part of his work. The group work supervisor seeks to orient the
group worker to the agency and to the community. through supervision social group worker becomes able
to formulate the appropriate group strategy at every step of group work process.4
4 Stroup, H. H. (1980). Social Work. An introduction to the field. New York, American Book Co.

8. Jenkins has listed certain skills that are essential for a social group worker to become more
productive in-group situation.
1) Exchanging ideas among the members freely and
clearly, using language understood by everyone and
with no fears of starting arguments or hurting
feelings.
2) Examining objectively how well the group and its
members are working.
3) Sharing the leadership jobs among the group
members and show sensitivity to the feelings of all.
4) Accepting newideas and new members into the
group without irreparable conflict, and to
disciplining the group to work toward long range
objectives and profit from failures.
5) Thinking clearly about group problems, findings,
causes and working for solutions.
6) Adjusting group procedures and plans to meet the
feelings and the desires of the members.
5
5 http://socialworkbhu.blogspot.com/2013/12/skills-of-social-group-work.html

9. Books
 Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R. H., Rooney, G. D., & Strom-Gottfried, (6th edition). Direct
social work practice: theory and skills. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
 Lindsay, T., & Orton, S. (2014). Groupwork practice in social work. Learning Matters.
 Stroup, H. H. (1980). Social Work. An introduction to the field. New York, American
Book Co.
Electronic Resources
 https://www.google.com.pk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&
ved=
 http://socialworkbhu.blogspot.com/2013/12/skills-of-social-group-work.html 5/21/2017 5:57:26 AM
 http://www.socwork.net/ /21/2017 6:30 AM
Bibliography
Shulman, L. (2012). Brooks/Cole empowerment series:The skills of helping individuals,families, groups,
and communities. Cengage Learning.
Konopka, G. (1963). Social group work: A helping process.Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Van Knippenberg, D., De Dreu,C. K., & Homan, A. C. (2004). Work group diversity and group
performance: an integrative model and research agenda. Journal of applied psychology,89(6),1008.
Papell, C. P.,& Rothman, B. (1966). Social group work models: Possession and heritage. Journal of
Education for Social Work, 2(2),66-77.
Dr. Vera Mehta’s “Social Group Work” in Encyclopedia of Social Work in India (I968)
Dr.H Y Siddique, “ Group Work: Theories and Practices:India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka”
Rawat Publications, 2008.
The Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups, Inc. (AASWG)
P.D. Sharma,“Social Work –Philosophy and Methods, Inter-India Publications, New Delhi, 1995