ABSTRACT
A key and recurring theme of this book is the need for groupworkers to think strategically when planning and preparing for a group, especially since the success of a group can be undermined by lack of support from colleagues. Moreover, for a successful group to become a successful groupwork service, the group leaders must attract wide support. You can begin to develop these alliances from the start by establishing a planning group and considering who should be part of this. The planning group should not be involved in the details of the group and it need not be bureaucratic – it may only need to meet once or twice – but it can play a significant role in identifying the necessary resources and legitimising the group. The planning group can help with matters such as publicity, and its support could be critical if there are difficult decisions to be made around staffing.
