Role of Social Group Worker 1 Enabler As

Role of Social Group Worker

1. Enabler As enabler a group worker helps the group to become capable of coping with situations or transitional stress. In this role, he/she conveys hope, reduces resistance, and recognizes and manages feelings of the group members. He/she also helps them in identifying and supporting personal strengths and assets. 2. Integrator/Coordinator Integration is the process of bringing together various parts of the group to form a unified whole. While coordination involves bringing components together in some kind of organized manner. So, as coordinator, a group worker functions in many ways ranging from advocacy and identification of coordination opportunities to provision of technical assistance.

3. Manager This role involves some level of responsibility for a social agency to determine organizational goals. Group worker coordinates activities toward the achievement of goals; and monitors, assess and makes necessary changes in processes and structure to improve effectiveness and efficiency of group. 4. Educator The educator role involves giving information and teaching skills to the group members. However, for being an effective educator, the group worker must be knowledgeable as well as a good communicator so that the information may be clearly conveyed to and understood by the group members.

5. Evaluator Group needs to be evaluated at each phase. So as evaluator, group worker analyzes how various systems function and evaluates how well programmes and systems work. He/she also evaluates the effectiveness of his/her own interventions in the group struggle and thus identifies the loop holes in the enabling process and helps the group members to propose their solutions. 6. Facilitator In this role, the group worker becomes a facilitator by assuming the responsibility of expediting the change effort by bringing together people (either in a same group, or two different groups) and line of communications, channeling their activities and resources, and providing them with access to expertise.

7. Convener and Mediator In the convener and mediator roles, social group worker uses networking strategies to coordinate and develop services. When conflicts arise among members, group worker uses mediation skills to resolve differences. He/she also develops association or partnerships among diverse groups and organizations around common purposes or shared goals. 8. Trainer Social group worker as a trainer, makes presentations, serves as panelist, conducts public forums and facilitates workshops and sessions. Ideally, training adds to participants, base of strength, enhances their skills, and promotes their competency.

9. Programme Planner Sometimes a group may not be conscious of the programme suitable for its members. In such situation, the group worker has to intervene in the group as a programme planner and help the group members to plan the most appropriate programmes. 10. Stimulator In each group, few group members may be indifferent to the group programme due to constant failure and frustrations. They either are not ready to participate in the group process or are unable to do so because of several phobias. In such situation, the group worker plays the role of stimulator. He helps them in enhancing their capacities and motivates them for future success.