‘What works’ in groupwork? Towards an ethical framework for measuring effectiveness

Abstract

Groupwork has been emerging as a key choice in methods of intervention with young people, parents and children in recent years and is now implemented by a wide range of professionals and non-professionals, in a variety of settings and agencies. Simultaneously, the requirements to evaluate and measure effectiveness in line with the drive for evidence based practice have presented groupworkers with some difficulties in finding evaluation strategies and methods which are appropriate and which reflect both processes and outcomes, effectiveness and experiences.

In this article I will examine the growth of groupwork as a major method of intervention for many so-called ‘social problems’ in terms of the use of power in groups and the diversity of theoretical perspectives which may be informing the new groups. I will argue that, while evaluation is an essential element for groupwork practice, engagement with others in groups requires critical reflection and analysis of the conceptual base for these activities. I argue that the groupwork tradition is largely grounded in social work as a profession and because of that has developed knowledge and skills which are moderated and grounded in a particular professional culture, with its attendant values and ethical stance. The paper concludes with a call to return to this ethical positioning as a starting point for evaluating groupwork and for promoting its effectiveness through a sensitivity to power and control issues in groups.