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Facilitate groups in social service work
level:
5
credit:
6
planned review date:
June 2006
sub-field:
Social Services
purpose:
People credited with this unit standard are able to: facilitate
establishment of the group; facilitate identification of group
objectives and tasks; facilitate the group to address
objectives and tasks; and facilitate closure of the group.
entry information:
Open.
accreditation option:
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA, industry and
teaching professional in the same field from another
provider.
moderation option:
A centrally established and directed national moderation
system has been set up by Community Support Services ITO
Limited (Careerforce).
special notes:
1
People awarded credit in this unit standard are able to
explain the application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the
social services, and are able to apply this competence
to the context of assessment for this unit standard (for
further clarification, please refer to Unit 7927, Explain
the application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the social
services).
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2
Glossary
The characteristics and needs of group members and
the group may be physical, spiritual, or mental.
Characteristics and needs may include but are not
limited to: age and stage of development, coping
strategies, group roles and dynamics, culture, disability,
experience and knowledge, group history, gender,
health status, history of each member of the group,
language, sexual orientation, socio-economic situation,
and needs for physical comfort, safety, and privacy of
group members.
Facilitation methods and the group environment must
reflect the value and appropriateness of that setting in
terms of freedom from interruption to the group
process, responsiveness to the characteristics and
needs of group members, and the depth and sensitivity
of the group task and process.
Group and group members are used as generic terms
to denote the people who are involved in the group.
They may be referred to by various descriptive terms in
the range of social service settings. In the context of
this unit standard, competent practice requires that the
concerns, issues, needs and dynamics of the group be
attended to as well as the individual concerns, issues,
and needs of each group member.
3
People awarded credit in this unit standard are able to
demonstrate and self monitor self care in groups,
positive functioning in groups, and ability to relate to
difference, as evidenced by acknowledgement and
respect for difference, acceptance, genuineness,
honesty, humility, patience, and warmth. They use
inclusive language, and group work methods and
modalities that are appropriate to the characteristics
and needs of the group and group members. They
seek to establish and maintain rapport with the group,
respond to criticism or negative feedback without
defensiveness, and act on changes required to
maintain rapport. They demonstrate and communicate
clarity about their role in the social services within all
relationships with members of the group. They know
the limits of their role, function, and competence, and
when to refer on to others.
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4
All communications with group members, and within the
group are treated confidentially. The scope and limits
of confidentiality are defined through negotiation and
informed consent of group members and the group, and
criteria established by legislation, ethical practice, and
service provider guidelines. In the context of this unit
standard, sources of criteria established by legislation,
ethical practice, and service provider guidelines include
but are not limited to: Official Information Act 1982,
Privacy Act 1993, service provider codes of conduct,
codes of practice issued by the Privacy Commissioner,
social service codes of ethics, and service provider
guidelines, protocols, staff manuals, strategic plans,
kawa, or tikanga.
5
People awarded credit in this unit standard show that
their actions are guided and supported by valid theory
for social service practice. Evidence is required of
social service theory that is derived from authoritative
sources, which may include but are not limited to: body
of knowledge related to social service work; cultural
theory; practice research.
Elements and Performance Criteria
element 1
Facilitate establishment of the group.
performance criteria
1.1
Facilitation attends to the characteristics and needs of group members and the
group and establishment of the group environment.
1.2
Facilitation clarifies the social service worker's role, function, and any legal
responsibilities with the group.
1.3
Facilitation establishes the essential elements of group management.
Range:
essential elements of group management may include but are not
limited to - membership of, and commitment to the group; ground
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rules, kawa or protocols for each group session and group
relationships; leadership; methods and procedures for dealing with
conflict in the group.
Evidence is required of four essential elements.
1.4
Facilitation engages group members in the group process according to their
characteristics and needs.
element 2
Facilitate identification of group objectives and tasks.
performance criteria
2.1
Facilitation identifies the process to be used to identify group and group
member concerns, issues, or needs, and group objectives and tasks.
2.2
Information sought is relevant to identification of each group member's and the
group's characteristics and concerns, issues, or needs.
2.3
Interpersonal skills are used which respond to verbal and non-verbal
communications and identify concerns, issues, or needs.
Range:
2.4
Group work skills are used that facilitate the task, maintenance, and individual
needs of the group; facilitate group process; and identify concerns, issues, or
needs.
Range:
2.5
interpersonal skills may include but are not limited to - attending,
clarifying, encouraging, following, listening, questioning,
paraphrasing, reflection of feeling and content, summarising.
Evidence is required of six interpersonal skills.
group work skills may include but are not limited to - identification
and maintenance of group values; maintenance of ground rules;
leadership; conflict resolution; facilitation of decision making
processes; facilitation of group building and development;
identification of and contributions to group dynamics; negotiation;
brain storming; action methods.
Evidence is required of six group work skills.
Facilitation is directed towards enabling group members to identify connections
between identified concerns, issues, or needs and their social and cultural
context.
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2.6
Facilitation is directed towards enabling group members to identify achievable
objectives and tasks.
element 3
Facilitate the group to address objectives and tasks.
performance criteria
3.1
Facilitation methods are directed towards enabling group members to select the
process to be used to address objectives and tasks.
Range:
facilitation methods may include but are not limited to - co-creating
and exploring alternatives, challenging, coaching, confrontation,
exploring patterns and beliefs, feedback, focusing, making
connections, providing information, reframing.
Evidence is required of four facilitation methods.
3.2
Facilitation enables the group to develop a group plan that is consistent with
objectives and tasks, and consistent with the group's characteristics and needs.
3.3
The plan identifies resources that are available to achieve objectives and tasks,
a time frame, the social service worker's role in the plan, and methods of
evaluating progress.
3.4
Facilitation of the group plan is in accordance with the social service worker's
role in the plan.
Range:
3.5
facilitation methods may include but are not limited to - co-creating
and exploring alternatives, challenging, coaching, confrontation,
facilitation of group task and process, facilitation of group
maintenance needs, facilitation of individual needs, exploring
patterns and beliefs, facilitation of individual plans of members of
the group, feedback, focusing, making connections, providing
information, referral to other services, reframing.
Evidence is required of four facilitation methods.
Facilitation methods encourage self determination by the group and discourage
dependency on the social service worker or service provider.
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element 4
Facilitate closure of the group.
performance criteria
4.1
Facilitation is directed towards enabling the group to evaluate progress in terms
of objectives and tasks.
4.2
Facilitation of closure of each group session is according to the established
kawa or protocol.
4.3
Facilitation of closure of the group plan is according to completion of planned
involvement of the social service worker.
4.4
Facilitation of closure of the group plan identifies relevant issues arising from
the group.
Range:
4.5
Facilitation of closure of the group identifies relevant issues for future
involvement in groups.
Range:
4.6
relevant issues arising from the group may include but are not
limited to - identification of achieved objectives and tasks; transfer
of learning to dealing with other concerns, issues, or needs;
identification of objectives and tasks that have not yet been
achieved; identification of future objectives and tasks; identification
of options to achieve future objectives and tasks; ongoing plans.
Evidence is required of three relevant issues.
relevant issues may include but are not limited to - factors that
may lead to resumption of contact; future services available from
the social service worker or service provider; other sources of
referral.
Evidence is required of two relevant issues.
Facilitation of closure of the group is according to the established kawa or
protocol.
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Comments to:
Careerforce
PO Box 2637
Wellington 6140
Please Note:
Providers must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority
before they can offer programmes of education and training
assessed against unit standards.
Accredited providers assessing against unit standards must
engage with the moderation system that applies to those unit
standards. [Please refer to relevant Plan ref: 0222]
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016