Social Work

with Groups
A SMALL GROUP OF THOUGHTFUL PEOPLE COULD
CHANGE THE WORLD. INDEED, IT’S THE ONLY THING
THAT EVER HAS.
Social Group Unit I
Historical Background of Group Work;
Work Syllabus Theoretical Base of Social Group
Work; Goals and Objectives of Social
Group Work; Group Process, Group
Development and Program Develop-
ment.

Unit II
USES OF GROUPS AND HOW GROUPS
EFFECT CHANGE; THE ROLES,
FUNCTTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES,
KNOWLEDGE , SKILLS, TECHNIQUES
AND STRATEGIES OF A SOCIAL GROUP
WORKER

Unit III
PHASES OF GROUP DEVELOPEMNT

Unit IV
THE HELPING PROCESSS IN SOCIAL
WORK WITH GROUPS

Unit V
THEORETICAL MODELS AND AP-
PROACHES AF SOCIAL GROUP
WORK

Unit VI
GROUP STRUCTURE AND GROUP
PROCESS
 UNIT 3—
PHASES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Discussed the Phases of Group Development and corresponding social work skills needed at
every skills.
2. Can facilitate group dynamics in the different phases of group development.
3. Apply the helping process in group work context .

PHASES IN GROUP DEVELOPMENT ACCORDING TO MARGARET E. HARTFORD

I. PRE-GROUP PHASE
Group workers do this before actual organizing
Private Pre-Group phase
The group does not exist, only private ideas or plans are in the mind of the social worker
Public Pre-Group phase
Idea or plan even decision to form group is shared with others
Announcements made either verbally or in writing
Social agency defined at this period. The purpose and time frame of the group program and the crite-
ria for group composition
For Sue Henry, Private Pre-Group and Public Pre-Group phase is “INITIAL STAGE”
Convening Phase
Prospective members or some of them meet for the first time
Behavior elicited are restlessness, tension, withdrawn
Members sizing up the situation in terms of whether or not their expectations are going to be
met

II. GROUP FORMATION PHASE

A period when the group get organized

Group goals and norms evolve and the group’s role system begins to develop
Observable among group members are cohesion, uniting with other or simply “union” among
members

III. GROUP INTEGRATION, DISINTEGRATION AND REINTEGRATION PHASE

Interpersonal ties increase and a sense of group bond or “we feeling” begins to become apparent
Goal-directed activities engage the members
Members can show enthusiasm for the group’s activities

INTEGRATION
James A. Garland, Hubert E. Jones and Ralph Kolodny call this phase “Power and Control”
Sue Henry call this phase “Conflict/Disequilibrium”

DISINTEGRATION
Conflict in the group if serious and not resolved can lead to the group’s total disintegration

REINTEGRATION
An indication of a higher level of integration is characterized by a more stable relationships,
stable group structure, a greater influence of the group upon the members. Clearer
norms, higher levels of interdependence and cooperation among members, more aware-
ness of the significance of the group experience and a state of equilibrium
 IV. GROUP FUNCTIONING AND MAINTENANCE PHASE

“Groupness” is developed during this phase

According to Hartford, this is the period when the group, with the guidance or help of the
social worker, works at implementing its plan in order to achieve the defined goals
Members’ concern for the group and their engagement in activities, along with relationship
patterns, promote functioning and maintenance of the group
The group is on high level of functioning and is expected to achieve its goals
“Group Functioning and Maintenance Phase” is “Differentiation” for James A. Garland, Hu-
bert E. Jones and Ralph Kolodny
“Problem-Solving and Stabilization” for Helen Northern
“Maturation” for Rosmary C. Sarri and Maeda Galinsky

V. TERMINATION PHASE
Pre-termination phase, the group is prepared for its imminent ending
Termination, the actual ending, which means the last group meeting
Post-termination, a period after the group cease to function and involves to continue to
meet as a group if desired

Note: More readings ,please refer to Chapter 4 Socail Work With Groups by Thelma Lee Mendoza
Or watch video at https://bit.ly/340xYNB or https://bit.ly/30YcoHD

Questions for Discussion:

1. What is a Group? Define the term in your own words.
2. What is meant by “phases of development?” Why is it important of a social worker toknow about the phases
in group development ?

Let’s do an evaluation test...

Let’s
Do
TRUE or FALSE ( If false, be sure you know why).

_____________ 1.A group that meets only once, even if organized by a

This social worker, can not be considered a social work group.

_____________2. a social work group can address only one of the
three general functions of social work at any given time.
_____________ 3. I is more important for the worker to understand
and dealwithin the dynamics occurring in a group rather than forher to
exert effort in dealing with the group’s environment.
_____________4. the main reason a social worker forms a group is so
that she can augment her casework and make it more effective as a
helping method.
____________ 5. A group program or service is always conceptualized
by the agency social worker or staff member.
____________ 6. A social worker working with a group should perform
a facilitator role to avoid imposing her will on the group.
____________ 7. after a group starts to disintegrate, it is ot likely to
become cohesive anymore.
____________8. it is not necessary to enlist community support if a
group program is to be offered within an institutional setting.
___________ 9. When an intake interview has been done and a client
has been admitted to an agency or institution, it is not necessary to do
pre-group interviews since all data are already available on the pro-
spective group members.
___________ 10.Group norms should emanate only from the group
members.