ABSTRACT
The observations in this chapter have arisen from group work, with social work and health service practitioners, and an examination of the impact of social policy on caring relationships. The two areas were closely related. In support groups and workshops with practitioners, it became difficult to make sense of their experiences—the way that certain aspects of a problem became the focus of attention while other parts were relatively ignored without understanding the corresponding policy environment. In a similar way, it was possible to observe characteristic patterns occurring in the group work process which led to a critical analysis of formal policy, particularly in terms of what was emphasized and what had become eclipsed in the arena of community care.
