Social Work Practice II: Groupwork & Community Organisation (SWK504)

Social Work Practice II: Groupwork and Community Organisation teaches the other two contemporary methods of social work: groupwork and community work. The emphasis is on applying strengths-based, planned change and the generalist model to practice with a variety of groups including task groups, support groups, treatment groups and educational groups and with diverse communities. The course focuses on understanding the process and skills in working with groups and communities at the various stages. Theories of groupwork and community development will be covered along with types of advocacy and approaches to ameliorate adverse environmental conditions will also be covered.

• Need for social work groups and human communities
• Strengthen perspective in groups and communities
• Purpose of social groups
• Elements of task and therapeutic groups
• Theoretical based for groupwork
• Process and methods of social groupwork
• Understanding group dynamics
• Conflicts and diversity in groups
• 4 Stages of groupwork
• Models of community development
• Cultural & ethical consideration in community work
• Community based systems of care

• Examine systems and problem-solving theories and the strengths perspective as applied to work with groups and communities.
• Analyse group work and community organisation theory and knowledge.
• Discuss ethical issues in social work practice with groups and communities.
• Assess groups and communities with knowledge of human growth and behaviour and social environment.
• Plan purposeful group and community work in culturally appropriate ways.
• Evaluate the social change process using research and evaluation skills