Social Group Work in The United Kingdom

Abstract

Social group work originated as a social work method in a variety of social movements over the last hundred years. The development of social group work occurred in a similar fashion in the United States with close connections between social reform and social work via the group method. In the United Kingdom the development of social group work has lagged behind the United States. Group work has been demonstrated to be an effective mode of intervention in enabling some types of clients to solve social problems. A variety of models are available for practitioners to use in organising their work. We will describe group work in terms of different types of objectives, targets, worker roles and timing. Growth-oriented groups also tend to be long term and the timing of contact will vary. Some areas of knowledge about human behaviour and societal functioning are common to all models of social group work.