Working with families, carers, groups and communities is something all social work students must prepare for. Written to guide you through these varied and complex groupwork situations, this book explores the knowledge, skills and values required for groupwork practice. Divided into two parts, the first provides an understanding of groupwork, its concepts and contexts, while the second takes you step-by-step through groupwork practice, from planning and preparation, to starting out, facilitating and finally ending work with a group.

Different service contexts including work with children, with users who have learning disabilities, in mental health settings, and more, are covered throughout the book, with case studies, activities and reflective opportunities helping you to understand the complexities of these contexts.

This text is a comprehensive and contemporary guide to groupwork in social work today.

Karin Crawford is a Principal Teaching Fellow in the School of Health and Social Care and Director of Teaching and Learning for the Faculty of Health, Life and Social Sciences at the University of Lincoln.

Groupwork in context
Introducing groupwork
The context of groupwork
Understanding groupwork
Groupwork practice
Planning and preparation
Setting up and starting out
Facilitating - methods and techniques
Closure and endings - what next?
Enhancing groupwork practice