Summary:

In this subject, the following areas are studied theoretically and practically: General notions of what a group is. The process of belonging, reference factors and internal/external elements that define or modify it. Teamwork and the team. The role of social work in the group. Type of professional activity in self-help, mutual help and social support groups. Methodology of group work. Analysis of experiences of intervention in group social work. Main group techniques (group dynamics, meeting techniques and sociogram). The Institution as a group with special consideration. All these themes are directly applicable to the study of different real-life cases proposed by the professor. The students, organised in work teams, will design a group social intervention over the duration of the course

COMPETENCES AND LEARNING OUTCOMES: (Consult Module C of the document titled ‘Informe ANECA’ for accreditation of the qualification. It can be found on the Faculty website).

1 Learn about, and differentiate between, different types of groups that can be subject to intervention in group social work phase, and the role of the social worker in them.

2. Learn about, understand and reflect critically on a range of social phenomena, situations and problems (both existing and emerging) with a view to developing skills for working with groups.

3. Acquire and apply different techniques and skills to improve the lives and social opportunities of individuals and groups through the group.

4. Learn about ways of intervening with groups to contribute to taking decisions based on their needs, circumstances, risks and resources; to promote their participation in the processes of their surroundings and increase their ability to act and take the initiative socially.

5. Learn how to design, implement and evaluate projects for intervention with groups, or based on groups.

THEORETICAL PROGRAMME

1. INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS

2. THE GROUPS. Importance of the groups

3. THE ROLE OF THE SOCIAL WORKER IN THE GROUP. Main roles of the social worker in the group, and Leadership.

4. WORKING METHODOLOGY FOR SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS

- Intervention phases: Start-up. Implementation. Evaluation

5. MAIN GROUP TECHNIQUES

- Types of techniques - Group dynamics. - Meeting techniques –Sociogram.

6. SOCIAL WORK INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANISATIONS

- Case Studies

- Viewing videos

- Guided discussions

• Continuous Assessment System
• Final Assessment System
• Tools and qualification percentages:
  • Written test to be taken (%): 60
  • Team projects (problem solving, project design)) (%): 40

CONTINUOUS EVALUATION

- 60% of the final mark: theoretical-practical written exam (theory and exercises / classroom practical work)

- 40% of the final mark: Group work (written work, whose sections will be handed over on time for their supervision. Oral presentation at the end of the term).

It is essential to pass the theoretical exam and the group work separately to obtain a final mark for the subject, and therefore to pass it as a whole.



FINAL EVALUATION

- For the final evaluation, the content and the percentages to be assessed will be the same as in the continuous assessment, unless the practical part will consist of an individual project to be handed in on the day of the exam.

-For students who, having passed the practical work phase, still have this subject pending: after confirming, before the date of the exam, the condition stated above, their final and only exam will be the theoretical-practical exam, accounting for 100% of the final mark.



PROCEDURE FOR REQUESTING FINAL ASSESSMENT



"In all cases the student will have the right to be assessed via the final assessment system, regardless of whether he/she has participated in continuous assessment. To do so, the student must present his/her withdrawal from continuous assessment in writing to the professor(s) responsible for the subject. He/she will have 9 weeks for termly subjects and 18 weeks for annual ones, starting from the beginning of the term or year (respectively), in accordance with the centre's academic calendar. The teaching guide for the subject may set a longer period" (art. 8.3.).



The requirements for students who choose the final assessment system are the same as indicated: three individual essays based on texts related to the subject and a community diagnosis, which in this case will also be individual.



NOTE:

In case of having to do the evaluation online due to COVID-19, both for the continuous assessment and the final assessment system, the requirements (individual / group)are the same and they will be delivered through EGela (online platform), at the same day and time provided in the ordinary and/or extraordinary call.



WITHDRAWAL FROM THE CALL



In the case of continuous assessment: "a student may withdraw from the call in a period that, as a minimum, will be up to one month before the completion date of the teaching period for the corresponding subject. This withdrawal must be presented in writing to the professor(s) responsible for the subject" (art. 12.2).



In the case of final assessment: "non-presentation at the examination on the official exam date will mean the student desists from the corresponding call" (art. 12.3).

The same rules and procedures will be maintained as for an ordinary evaluation.

Theoretical and practical content available in the eGela platform, and others provided and worked on in the classroom.

Basic bibliography

Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups, Inc. (2006). Standards for social work practice with groups (2cnd Edition). Alexandria, VA: Author.



-Garvin, C. D., Gutiérrez, L. M., & Galinsky, M. J. (Eds.). (2017). Handbook of social work with groups. Guilford Publications.



-Konopka, G. (1960). Social group work: A social work method. Social Work, 53-61

-Northen, H., & Kurland, R. (2001). Social work with groups. Columbia University Press

- Zastrow, Ch. H. (1999). The practice of Social Work. 6ª ed. Pacific Grove:

Brooks/Cole.

In-depth bibliography

- FUENTES, I., & TOLEDANO, L. (2004). Relatos de experiencias de trabajo social con grupos. Trabajo social hoy, (2), 7-20.
- GOBIERNO VASCO (2006): Diagnóstico e intervención Social. Herramienta informática para el Trabajo Social. Vitoria-Gasteiz: Gobierno Vasco.
- HENRY, S.; EAST, J. Y SCHMITZ, C. (COORDS.) (2004). Trabajo social con grupos. Madrid: Narcea.
- PARRA RAMAJO, B. (2017). El trabajo social de grupo en la actualidad: La utilización de los vínculos para la promoción del cambio social: http://hdl.handle.net/2445/121897
- ZAMANILLO TERESA (2008). Trabajo social con grupos y pedagogía ciudadana. Madril: Síntesis

Journals

-Group work applications across the social work curriculum
-Groupwork
-Social Work with Groups

Web addresses

Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups.