ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the group living factor which is the one which most distinguishes group practice in centres from mainstream social groupwork. Groupwork is in general a more personally exposing method of social work than individual casework. This is because in a group there is likely to be a greater degree of equality between workers and users, and an expectation that the workers will join with members in some of the personal sharing and disclosure. Every worker in a day or residential centre needs good skills in functioning as a team member. In centres both users and staff will have membership of a range of groups and groupings. This requires special skills in coping with the different tasks and memberships of each gathering, as well as skill in having to adapt quite frequently from one milieu to another. The chapter explores the particular skills that apply when working with groupings.
