Group Work - Essay Example

A proposal for working with a group Name Institution Date A proposal for working with a group 1. Identify and discuss a practice context where you believe group-work is an appropriate social work intervention for change. (750 words) Context The practice context that I belief group work is an appropriate social work intervention for change is helping chronic renal patients on adapting with dialyses or removing their fear from starting dialysis. I believe group work is an appropriate social work intervention for change in that this practice context because patients with chronic renal disease have a lot of difficulties on coping with the treatment of undergoing dialysis. Chronic renal patients are those that are suffering from kidney as well as urinary track diseases at their advanced stages (Verrelli 2008, p.1). Even though there are many medical advances that have been introduced for the purpose of treating the chronic renal diseases, it is true that, many patients face the challenge of coping with the emotional effects of kidney failure. The patients as well as their families are found to remain emotionally affected since many areas that affect their daily living must be changed. I consider group work as an appropriate social work intervention in helping chronic renal patients on adapting with dialyses or removing their fear from starting dialysis since working in a group brings about many benefits to the patients in terms of education, emotional support as well as self-help. In their social work, it is easy for patients to grow and heal fast through the encouragement and advice from group members. Chronic renal patients who engage to work together with their fellow patients find it easy to receive treatment for their kidney failure, returning back to work as well as other daily activities, sexuality as well as having children, dealing with their emotions and family issues (National Kidney Foundation 2015, p.1). Group work is a very important tool in social work and I consider it essential when monitoring patients with chronic renal diseases. This helps improve the quality as well as appropriateness of social work services that are offered to the patients. Bearing in mind that these patients are at the end stage of renal disease, it becomes an area of concern where interventions need to be implemented to save the lives of these patients and for the families’ emotional wellness. According to Morales, Sheafor & Scott (2006), with the use of group work in social work, it is easy for patients to raise their concerns to practitioners working in both dialyses as well as transplant settings. Social work plays an important role in the delivery of service as well as the outcomes of patient care. Using group work in social work will strengthen their desire in advocating for specific measures in monitoring the quality as well as the position of the profession and the health care system. A group serves a big purpose in calling for services that are of high quality for the purpose of enhancing treatment for patients with chronic renal disease, avoiding the expensive delays that they are imposed into before discharge as well as preventing hospital admissions for these patients that are not necessary. Therefore, supporting group work in social work is necessary to help the patients cope fast with dialysis since their issues are addressed quickly. In social work, groups serve to support as well as maximise the psychosocial functioning and patient together with their families in adjusting to the experiences of end stage renal disease. In a group work, patients work together and engage in physical, social as well as psychological activities that reduce the social and emotional stresses that come with chronic renal disease concomitants such as; shortened life expectancy, an altered lifestyle where many changes occur for the patient and families, sexual functioning, time consumption, financial stress, social and vocational stress as well as treatment system which is complex. Group work in social work functions as a multidisciplinary team which is responsible in fostering treatment which is positive to the chronic renal patients. All the cultural, ethnic and religious differences are dealt with among patients and their families while respect for those patients is held for the individual independence and choice. Before and after patients undertake dialysis, group members in social work provide education and emotional support for patients and their families. In group work, it is easy to carry out the activities in social work for the patients without discrimination of patients. Activities for the group work in social work for the chronic renal patients include; psychosocial evaluation including assessment for treatment plan, casework like counselling and conferences with patients, families, and support networks; crisis intervention; goal-directed counselling and discharge planning, providing information to patients and referral, group work education, emotional support, self-help for the patients and their families, information and referral, facilitation of community agency referrals, team care planning as well as collaboration, advocating on behalf of the patients’ within the setting and with appropriate local, state, and federal agencies and programs and programming, provision of patient and family education. 2. Outline the type of group, 1 purpose statement and 3 aims outcome statements that are be appropriate for this situation. (100 words) Purpose and Aim Type of Group This is a structured social work group. Structured groups organise and integrate connections with other individuals to help in reducing stress or loneliness (Rengasamy 2011, p.7). Purpose Statement The main purpose for the group is serving in social work intervention so as to help chronic renal patients on adapting with dialyses or removing their fear from starting dialysis Aims 1. To educate chronic renal patients of the importance of dialysis as the best treatment that they can seek 2. To provide emotional support for the patients and their families so as to overcome the effects of dialysis treatment 3. To sensitize and remove fear in patients so as encourage them in seeking dialysis for chronic renal disease 3. Outline and discuss the proposed leadership structure of the group. (450 words) Proposed Leadership Structure The structure of a group is very important in defining the roles that specific individuals will play in the social work activities. A sound leadership structure ensures that activities run smoothly and ensure the dreams of every member are achieved or transformed into reality through the reliance of systems that deliver success for the group members (Vrouvas 2015, p.1). The proposed leadership structure of the group will be functional and involving; the chairman, steering committee, social workers, managers and members. Chairman The chairman will play the role of the leader in the group. All the final authority of the group is centralized on the chairman. The chairman will oversee the administrative functions within the group. As the leader of the group, the chairman will enact various roles as well as occupy locations that are different all through the life of the group. The role of the chairman will shift along a continuum ranging from primary, to variable, to facilitative. This will depend on the needs, capabilities as well as the characteristics of the group members (Horejsi & Sheafor 2006). The behaviour of the leader will determine the survival of the group. When forming the group, the chairman as the leader of the group will serve the role of selecting candidates for the group. The chairman will also determine the purpose of the group, structure, location and duration. Special Assistants These are assistants who are selected by the group so as to help the chairman in carrying out the administrative functions within the group. Steering Committee The steering committee will serve to develop the goals of the group and also coordinate the creation of the strategies for the group. Social Workers These are trained individuals within the group who have knowledge of dialysis and patients with chronic renal disease. They serve the purpose of educating the patients and giving them guidance on the best ways of undergoing the dialysis treatment. The social workers will use the strategies that have been created by the steering committee to perform the specified tasks of the group. Managers Middle and lower level managers will be recruited so as to oversee the supervision of the social workers in their designated work roles. These managers will also oversee the issues raised by chronic renal patients are forwarded and addressed by the social workers. Other Members The group members will involve patients with chronic renal illnesses are have already undertaken dialysis and those waiting to undertake dialysis. They will be provided with education by the social workers about dialysis treatment and how to deal with its effects. 4. Outline the process that you would take to identify, recruit and engage with the people who may participate in this group. (550 words) Membership The International Association for Social Work with Groups IASWG (2015, p.1) denote that, groups in social work must follow various standards that they apply in their social work practice. This means that, the members of a group must be identified, recruited and engaged in a professional manner. It is evident that, social work with the use of groups is a reflection of a domain which is broad in the professional practice. Therefore, a standard process of identification, recruitment and engagement of group members is necessary. The following process will be undertaken to identify, recruit and engage members in the proposed group. Identification As per the social group work theory, the social process is used in identifying eligible members to the group (The Social Welfare History Project 2014, p.1). Considering that human beings are social animals, their live activities are conducted in groups. Therefore, their social identities are easily noticed from such memberships. People with characteristics that favour the group are most suitable and likely to pass on as members of the group (Caporael 1997, p.276). The following process will be used to identify members including; Classifying of people with the knowledge of social work Categorising people with group values Recognising members styles of interaction suitable for the group Including people who participate in community and other member groups Assessing peoples strengths and concerns Do the people have mutual aid function People with multiple helping relationships People with a common problem Recruitment The recruitment of group members will be based on the following process; 1. Defining the needs of the group The group required different types of members including, leaders, enablers, educationists, and patients. The people’s qualifications and competencies in skills and knowledge will be matched with the available positions in the group (Horejsi & Sheafor 2006). Matching individual talents and commitments with the group needs in terms of skills and attributes ensured that the best suitable candidates will be recruited for the group. 2. Finding candidates This involved defining the eligible candidates for the group. The candidates who met the criteria required for selection were the ones who were eligible to become members of the group. 3. Screening and selection Those who had the following characteristics were selected, People who are willing to help one another Can the person work in harmony with the other members Flexible people with diverse experience in social work 4. Providing an orientation for the new group members Engagement In social group theory, engagement of members involves allowing them to participate actively in the activities for the group (Jacobsen 2013, p.1). The members who were participating in the activity of dialysis treatment are the patients. Patients were engaged in the treatment through a process of interviews conducted by the social workers in the group. This process was necessary since the patients were involuntary to participate and had fear of undergoing the dialysis treatment. Patients will be engaged by giving them a choice as well as control over their treatment, showing concern about the client will also be used as a successful strategy to encourage them undergo the treatment. Considering that dialysis is a very uncomfortable treatment that many of the chronic renal patients are not ready to undergo. Motivational interviewing as well as relational approaches will also be used to foster engagement with the involuntary patients. 5. Provide a description of the ‘ideal’ physical setting and any resources needed to run the group. (250 words) The Ideal Group Physical Setting A group work practice setting can be carried out in a clinical setting that can be tradition or even innovative in approach such as; child guidance clinics, institutions for children, schools and colleges, family welfare agencies, institutions for women, the aged, children, and the handicapped among others. Group work can also be practiced within developmental settings including; community projects that are unstructured, social action movements and floating placements (Rengasamy 2011, p.29). The ideal physical setting of the group will be conducted specifically in a hospital. Programs There will be planned activities that play a very important role in the practice of the group social work. The planned activities are usually known as programmes that are organised for different purposes including; achievement of the environmental conditions of members, sublimating as well as channelling specific desires, promoting a sense of attainment, actualizing problems within an on-going social situation and working through feelings that members are not able to express them verbally (Farley, Smith & Bowle, 2006). The group work will carry out various programs including; activities such as educating patients, relationship building, group interactions with patients, screening patients, counselling patients and their families as well as taking them through the dialysis process during and after the treatment. Resources The resources that will be required to carry out these programs include; time, money, manpower, conference halls, social worker knowledge and skills and screening tools. These resources are very essential to ensure that all the needs of the patients are met and their condition is improved through the acceptance to undergo through the dialysis treatment. 6. Outline the criteria and process of evaluation that would be used to assess the effectiveness of the group program. (400 words) Criteria and Process of Evaluation Evaluation involves the appraisal of the worth as well as the effectiveness of the activities that are carried out by a group in social work. This is done for the purpose of establishing whether the objectives of the group have been met. Evaluation is part of the social group work within which the worker makes an attempt of measuring the quality of experience of the group in relation to its set objectives. It is essential to carry out the evaluation of the group program since it enables the group worker in discovering the achievements of the group objectives (Sondra & Camile 1999). Through evaluation, the group has the capacity of seeing strengths as well as weaknesses and areas or processes that need to be worked on. Evaluation of the group program is necessary so as to help in formulating new objectives as well as renewing the objectives that are unsuitable for the group. To assess the effectiveness of the group program the following criteria will be evaluated including; Evaluation of the group work When evaluating the group work, assessment is based on individual growth, program content as well as the performance of workers. When evaluating the group program, the following evaluation aspects will be assessed including; evaluation of leadership, the group process, the outcomes and changes that have been brought about by the members and the group action in relation to group goals (Rengaswamy 2008). Program Content Evaluation In the program content, the group worker will evaluate the following; Individual growth evaluation – here, evaluation will be done so as to know the fulfilment level of individual members needs within the group. During this evaluation, the following will be assessed including; presence and individual participation in group activities, methods and knowledge gained through group experience (Brown & Harvey 2006). Evaluation of the group The group is used to achieve the objectives of individuals as well as their personality development. This means that, evaluating the effects as well as the growth of the group as a whole is important. In evaluating the group program, the group worker will evaluate the following including; group organisation, maturity achieved by the group, development of skills and expertness, group objectives achieved, mutual understanding within the group and cooperation among the group members, group standards, group leadership, group thinking, social responsibility to one another and the community, enriched interests of the group, group loyalty and morale, acceptance of each other’s differences and attendance (Zastrow & Zastrow 2008). References Brown, D, & Harvey, D, 2006, An Experiment Approach to Organizational Development, 7th Edition, Califonia: Brooks/Cole. Caporael, L, 1997, The evolution of truly social cognition: the core configuration model, Personality and Social Psychology Review, Vol. 1, pp. 276–98. Farley, O., Smith, L., & Bowle, S, 2006, Introduction to social work. Pearson. Allyn & Bacon. Horejsi, C., & Sheafor B, 2006, Tecniques & Guidelines for social work practice. Allyn & Bacon. International Association for Social Work with Groups (IASWG), 2015, IASWG Practice Standards, Retrieved from http://www.iaswg.org/Practice_Standards Jacobsen, C, 2013, Social Workers Reflct on Engagement with Involuntary Clients, Master of Social Work Clinical Research Papers. Paper 198. Retrieved from htt://sophia.stkate.edu/msw_papers/198. Morales, T., Sheafor B., & Scott, M, 2006, Social work: A profession of many faces. Pearson. National Kidney Foundation, 2015, Coping Effectively: A Guide For Patients And Their Families, Retrieved from https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/parentcoping. Rengasamy, S, 2011, Social Group Work-Social Work with Groups, Slide share, Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/srengasamy/understanding-social-group-work. Regaswamy, S, 2008, Student’s Guide to Social Group Work, (Ed). Sondra, B, & Camile, P, 1999, Group Work: Skills and Strategies for Effective Interventions, New York: The Haworth Press Inc. Verrelli, M, 2008, Chronic Renal Failure E Medicine from Web MD, Retrieved from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/238798-overview Vrouvas, M, 2015, Organizational Structure of a Social Service Organization, Demand Media, Retrieved from http://smallbusiness.chron.com/organizational-structure-social-service-organization-18124.html. Zastrow, C., & Zastrow, C, 2008, Social Work with Groups: A Comprehensive Workbook, 7th Edition, California: Brooks/Code. Read More

In social work, groups serve to support as well as maximise the psychosocial functioning and patient together with their families in adjusting to the experiences of end stage renal disease. In a group work, patients work together and engage in physical, social as well as psychological activities that reduce the social and emotional stresses that come with chronic renal disease concomitants such as; shortened life expectancy, an altered lifestyle where many changes occur for the patient and families, sexual functioning, time consumption, financial stress, social and vocational stress as well as treatment system which is complex.

Group work in social work functions as a multidisciplinary team which is responsible in fostering treatment which is positive to the chronic renal patients. All the cultural, ethnic and religious differences are dealt with among patients and their families while respect for those patients is held for the individual independence and choice. Before and after patients undertake dialysis, group members in social work provide education and emotional support for patients and their families. In group work, it is easy to carry out the activities in social work for the patients without discrimination of patients.

Activities for the group work in social work for the chronic renal patients include; psychosocial evaluation including assessment for treatment plan, casework like counselling and conferences with patients, families, and support networks; crisis intervention; goal-directed counselling and discharge planning, providing information to patients and referral, group work education, emotional support, self-help for the patients and their families, information and referral, facilitation of community agency referrals, team care planning as well as collaboration, advocating on behalf of the patients’ within the setting and with appropriate local, state, and federal agencies and programs and programming, provision of patient and family education. 2. Outline the type of group, 1 purpose statement and 3 aims outcome statements that are be appropriate for this situation.

(100 words) Purpose and Aim Type of Group This is a structured social work group. Structured groups organise and integrate connections with other individuals to help in reducing stress or loneliness (Rengasamy 2011, p.7). Purpose Statement The main purpose for the group is serving in social work intervention so as to help chronic renal patients on adapting with dialyses or removing their fear from starting dialysis Aims 1. To educate chronic renal patients of the importance of dialysis as the best treatment that they can seek 2.

To provide emotional support for the patients and their families so as to overcome the effects of dialysis treatment 3. To sensitize and remove fear in patients so as encourage them in seeking dialysis for chronic renal disease 3. Outline and discuss the proposed leadership structure of the group. (450 words) Proposed Leadership Structure The structure of a group is very important in defining the roles that specific individuals will play in the social work activities. A sound leadership structure ensures that activities run smoothly and ensure the dreams of every member are achieved or transformed into reality through the reliance of systems that deliver success for the group members (Vrouvas 2015, p.1). The proposed leadership structure of the group will be functional and involving; the chairman, steering committee, social workers, managers and members.

Chairman The chairman will play the role of the leader in the group. All the final authority of the group is centralized on the chairman. The chairman will oversee the administrative functions within the group. As the leader of the group, the chairman will enact various roles as well as occupy locations that are different all through the life of the group. The role of the chairman will shift along a continuum ranging from primary, to variable, to facilitative. This will depend on the needs, capabilities as well as the characteristics of the group members (Horejsi & Sheafor 2006).

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