Recording helps in understanding theory well. Students are helped to learn group work very easily by this recording

1. INDIGENOUS PRACTICE OF SOCIAL GROUP WORK RECORDING MODEL
Sam Sangeeth.G, Assistant professor, St.Joseph’s college, Kovoor, Chennai,
researchhand4u@gmail.com, (0)9894507594.
Abstract:Social group work is a method of social work which is very much demanding in the
field of social work practice in both community and institutional settings. This article throws
light on effective and systematic practice of process recording guidelines to social work trainees
and young professionals. This model helps the social work trainees and professionals to promote
the indigenous recording practice through which they can enhance knowledge, skills and values
involved in social group work. An effective outcome of social group work relies on systematic
recording practice in the field of social work at social agencies. This indigenous group work
recording practice of social work will curb down the ineffective/haphazadous practice of this
method and significance of the recording will be high lightened among the social work trainees
and young professionals. Field instructions are strong components in social work through guided
practice. Field exercises through indigenous practice will facilitate growth of the profession and
the individual’s standards in professional growth. The suggestion to practice by reflection on
effective recording procedures in social group work has enormous scope which can be
experienced by the social work trainees and the professionals in the country through this
indigenous practice of recording model.
Key words: Social group work, Indigenous practice, Recording model
Introduction: Man is a social animal where his existence cannot be solitary rather collective as
groups. As the days are passing by, group life is denied due to which problems are emerging to
individuals. Man cannot accomplish any task alone because of dependency and socializing
factor. Group life has to be promoted even in present modern days for healthy quality of life.
Groups are promotive, protective and educative in nature. According to Oxfordadvanced
learner’s dictionary, the group is termed as ‘a number of people that are together in the same
place or that are connected in some way’. According to Trecker.H. B (1955) ‘Social group work
is a method through which individuals in groups in social 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’. Social group has therapeutic influence.
According to Ohlsen (1977) and Yalom (1970,1975, 1985 1995) found through research that
there is therapeutic and curative factor evitable in the group. Systematic process recording will
facilitate evidence based practice which is password for social work practice. Systematic
recording is amalgamation of knowledge, skills, understanding and principles which will be
reflectedon indigenous social group work recording practice. Social group work indigenous
recording is one of the best and acceptable practices of social work among field work trainees
and professionals because to put off dependency towards adopting western literature and styles
rather it should be tested for its efficacy in the light of Indian scenario.

2. The administration of group work should be in the way it has to be conducted. The process of
recording must not be disrupted due to any costs. There are some points to remember while
recording is done in the helping process. The venue should not be exposed to external distraction
rather claim away from distraction like noise and other stimulus, sticking on to the time and
duration of the contract should be maintained. If the duration is prolonged the validity of the
information is less or will be lost. The process of group work should not be recorded during
group work sessions before the client rather it has to be recorded in mind or can jot down the
main points in his/her field work diary at the end of the process. When a group worker finds time
can prepare a good process report. These are ethical component which has to be pondered for
good recording system and reporting practice. Haphazard reports are produced due to
inadequacy/poverty of information or derailment in the practice of social group work which are
totally curbing professional standards in the practice of social work. In social work recoding
listening, observing and sustained recapitulation of the facts from his/her memory can lead to the
production of good process report. The report can be stored in box files and in digital forms. The
recording processof social group work can be done in written form and also using audio tapes,
video tapes and software exclusively for recording which is recent trends in recording social
work contemporary practices.
Applicability of indigenous practice of social group work process recording model:
This social group work recording model can be adopted by field work supervisors in the schools
of social work, by field work instructors in social agencies for promoting the field work practice
among social work trainees. Social work practice professionals also can use to improve quality
of recording practice. This indigenous practice model can be used in clinical, non
clinicalsettings, even in community group interventions.
Need for indigenous social group work recording model:
It serves as an educative tool for field work training and professionals.
It is helpful for future reference to inculcate learning.
It serves as an indigenous resource material.
It promotes systematic and structural thinking among field work trainees to combine theory and
practice.
It helps the trainees to gain knowledge about the insights/happenings (feelings and action) of the
groups.
It helps in maintaining continuity where field work trainees and group work practitioners
mediation or observation is not interrupted.
It promotes trainee to acquire in-depth understanding concerning individual, whereby it helps
him/her to be a part of planning and to assist in programme/activities to be implemented for
growth and development ofgroup members.

3. It reflects the quality of intervention which the trainee/young professional has administered
within the group
It helps the trainee itself to identify competencies and deficit areas through which he can exercise
for its excellence.
Nature of indigenous practice of social group works recording model:
This model is user friendly. It is detailed process recording in its kind. Process recording is not
frequently used form of recording in the present days. Group process recording is a detailed
description of group process in a sequential and systematic arrangement of information which
came to pass in the group. Process report can be presented through a culmination of both verbal
and nonverbal responses. It can be verbatim or non verbatim forms.
Benefits in application of an indigenous recording model in social work:
It enables the group worker to be accountable.
It facilitates teaching-learning by strengthening supervisory component.
It facilitates discussion in field work conferences for effective practice of social work trainees.
It promotes skills among the trainees and professionals.
It promotes escalation in professional standards
It helps the trainee to combine theory and practice.
It serves as the evaluation tool for the supervisors and field instructors.
It serves as a monitoring tool for the supervisors and field instructors, to guide the trainee/young
professionals in a graded exposure fashion.
It helps in innovative planning for subsequent sessions.
It articulates knowledge based practice among trainees and young professional.
It helps in promoting qualitative research.
It helps in preventing poverty of information.
It helps to trace out the methodology used in group for growth and achievement in the practice.
It ensures quality of practice in social agency among the trainees and young professionals.
It is a friendly recording model which can facilitates ease administration.
Contraindication in an indigenous social group work process recording model:-
This model of recording cannot be used when there is already existing model of recording. It can
be used by proper request to enhance the quality of recording in social work.
The records should not be kept in the reach of the group members or caregiver rather it should be
out of reach.
Abbreviations and symbols should not be used, rather it should be written in full explanatory
forms
Sophisticated language should not be used, rather it should be simple.

4. Scope for an indigenous social group work process recording model:
The social group work recording has scope in:
Social group work in schools and special groups with reference to children and adolescence.
Example: Groups with trafficked children and adolescence education programmes in schools.
Social group work in rehabilitation settings. Example: Psycho education for caregivers of
schizophrenics.
Social group work with marginalized groups. Example: Life skill education group among tribes.
Social group work with specific groups who are encountering loss.Example: Retirement group
and Group deal with death of his relative in inpatient wards.
Social group work among addicts Example: Alcoholic anonymous group
Social group work among elderly. Example: Group counselling among elderly.
Social group work among sexual minorities. Example: Livelihood education groups among
transgender.
Social group work among youth. Example: premaritalcounselling groups.
Social group work among women. Example: Self help groups among women.
Note: The scope is not confined to examples but beyond.
Indigenous social group work process recording model and guidelines,
Initial information
Group worker /trainee name:(write a full name in block)
Social group work session no : (indicate in number)
Date of social group work:(DD/mm/yy)
Venue for social group work:(location of the session)
Type of social group work : (Task/work groups, guidance/psychotherapy groups,
Counselling groups, psychotherapy groups, t-groups,
Psychodrama groups, self help groups, open group,
Closed groups)
Duration of social group work : (Starting and ending time)
Size of social group work : (Number of members in the group)
Composition of social group work: (Heterogeneous or homogeneous)
Social group work specific goals : (The specific objectives/goals depend on the group’s decision
guided by the worker)
Social group work general goals : (The fragments of specific goals.)
Social group work attendance :
S.no Names Age Sex Problem/prognosis Present/absent If absent reason
Group process involved in program planning and implementation:
a] How membership was sought in the group?

5. (Voluntary membership, involuntary membership and comment on membership procedures)
b] Objectives of the programme/activity: (should be in keeping with the specific objectives of the
session)
c] Finalized group activities/programme of the day session (programme/activities framed by the
group which are to be guided by group worker)
d] Need for programme implementation :( on what basis the programme/activity is conducted)
e] Utilization of resources mobilized and utilized :( give an account)
f] Strength and weakness of the group :( note through observation)
g] What were the mediums used in programme/activity implementation?
(Medium-play, drama, mime, use of puppets & masks, role-play, talk, movement, work - give
rationale of your choice)
h] Mention the value of programme/activity in the group?
(According to Trecker, note the details on following: - does the program/activity conducted are
group members centred? Do the activities /programmes are meeting the specific needs of the
group members? Does the activities / programme develop in the interest and needs of the group
members? Does the activities/programme planning as done in maximum ability of group
members? Does the group worker act as helping person in developing programme/activity for
group members?)
i] How were interaction patterns in the group?What are the ways adopted to manage?
(Leader was the central figure of interaction, each member took turns in speaking, spontaneous
flow of interaction without turns, setbacks in interaction – select the options appropriate for the
group to give rationale for it. Note the distribution of interaction, frequency of interaction,
duration of interaction, order of participation, direction of interaction, content (it can be verbatim
or non-verbatim form) and strategies involved to manage interactions can also recorded)
j]What was the type of communication persisted in the group?How the communication was
directed effectively?
(Chain communication- hierarchical communication in other words top to down communication,
wheel communication- everybody communicate to each other through centrally placed
individual, circle communication- communication runs in a circular fashion, all channel

6. communication- all has opportunity to communicate with all. Choose the communication pattern
and give an account of how the communication was observed and how it was directed)
k] What as the level of cohesiveness in the group? How group bond was developed in the group?
(Levels of cohesiveness -High/ low /moderate. Comment on the level cohesiveness. Make note
on the group promotion initiative through cohesiveness and group bond)
l] Did group experience- rejection, isolation? If yes, how did it occur and how the situation was
managed?
(Write note on rejection and isolation experienced between group worker and the members of the
group and among members. How it was resolved)
j] What are the norms in the group?
(Formulate according to groups)
k] What are the values of social group work prominent in the group?
(Values are importance of positive relationships, the value of cooperation, importance of
individualization, value of individual initiative, freedom of participation, dignity of each
individual, acceptance, justice, responsibility and mental health- write its application in terms
your group)
l] How was the morale of the group?
(Observe for enthusiasium and loyality which as observed in the group should be noted in
elaborate)
m] Relationship with in the group session?
(Some reactions are given give percentage and also give details how was it handled by group
worker)
Nature of
reaction by
member
To the group worker To the group members workers response
Fear
Anger
Participation
Initiation
Liking
Dependency
Rejection
Sensitivity
Belonging
Trust
No reaction

7. Any other
specify
Self-Evaluation:
a] Application of principle of group work followed during the session :
(According to Trucker note the use of principles like:-‘the principle of planned group formation,
principle of specific objectives, principle of purposeful worker group relationship, principle of
continuous individualization, principle of guided group interaction, principle democratic group
self determination, principle of flexible functional organization, principle of progressive
programme experiences, principle of resource utilization and principle of evaluation’)
b] Application of principle of programme planning followed in the group:
(Select the principle and note the application in the group:-is programme grown out of needs and
interest? did the programme take note on age, cultural background and economic states? is the
progrmme provided opportunity? is members joined by their interest and values, is programme
moved from simple to complex)
c] Leadership patterns adhered in the group
(Autocratic/ democratic/ lassiez-faire- give rationale for used leadership style)
:
d] Skills used in social group work :
(Note the application of skills- rapport building, public relation, coping, life skills; according to
trucker, skill in establishing purposeful relationship, skill in analyzing the basic group situation,
skill in dealing with group feelings, skill in programme development, skill in agency and
community resources, skill in evaluation)
e] Content of social group work :
(Information delivered to the group)
f] Emerging models of social work:
(Application, if any. Eg: crisis intervention model, cognitive model, behavioral model)
:
g] Role and function of social group worker in the group?
(Roles- initiator, information seeker, opinion seeker, information giver, opinion giver, elaborator,
coordinator, orienteer, evaluator, procedural technician, recorder, encourager, harmonizer,
compromiser, expediter, standard setter, group observer & commentator and follower;
Functions: - Did the group focuses on individual and considers group as a tool?, is group worker
played dual role - worked for individual and group betterment?, is group worker played as
guide and enabler? is social worker has capacity to work in different fields of societies? what are
the functions played in the group has to recorded) .

8. :
h] Stage of the group: [stages are forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning)
:
i] Whether the objectives of the group work have been attained?
j]Scope for better practice:
(Any referral services, placement services, or follow up services are to be noted)
k] Personal group worker’s reflection?
External evaluation
l] Field work supervisor/ senior social worker comments:
m] Comments/discussion with field work supervisor/ senior social worker:
Conclusion: Social group work practice lies on how successfully a process has been
implemented and more prominently, effectively it has been recorded. Recording facilitates
accountability and facilitates multi-disciplinary team discussions which are the major component
in effective social work practice. Group work records serves as an evidence for practice. When
evidences are more it leads to creation of theory where it further leads to creation of models of
intervention through practice and it bounce back to create new theory. By this underlying base
concept, standards of recording can be improved by which theories and models can evolve to
bring sustainable change in total personality of an individual. By this indigenous social recording
model can strengthen social group work - management information systems [MIS] of the social
agency and field work trainees to develop group work recording skills. It is duty of every
professional social worker who is practicing group work methods in social work should record
his/her mediations which is the ethical obligation in social work practice.
Bibliography:-
Books:
David capsussiet.et.al. (2006). Introduction to group work. Jaipur: Rawat publication.
Sanjay Bhattacharya, (2003). Social work an integrated approach. New Delhi: Deep and deep
publication pvt.ltd
P.D.Mishra (1994), Social work-philosophy and methods, New Delhi: Inter –India publications.
Online resources:
http://www.medifire.com/vie/?ziucebvgpos2igb
www.academemia.edu/48447/social/social_group_work#

9. How to cite
Sam Sangeeth, G. (2014). Joining hands and changing lives in social practice. M.
Angeline (Ed.). chennai, Tamil Nadu: Emarold publisher.
.