ABSTRACT
The group contracting stage is when the group discusses its overall sense of purpose together with more specific aims for review, and the question of what structures and processes need to be put in place to support these. Members’ understanding of the task of the group is a crucial topic for discussion at the contracting stage. Safety and trust are promoted by a solid and shared sense of purpose in the group. When group members are working for the same healthcare organisation, as opposed to the same service, it is sometimes possible to lose sight of the importance of client confidentiality, and the facilitators need to help members keep this firmly in mind. Mark Loveder’s study reinforces the value of contracting at the group level as a process rather than a one-off activity, and suggests that anxiety about exposure should be a particular focus.
