Leading groups

CHCGRP002 Plan and conduct group activities

This unit is about establishing, leading and participating in groups using a collaborative, strengths-based approach. Groups may be formal or informal.

 

How you will be assessed

You will be assessed through:

 

Practical

You will be assessed in the workplace under industry conditions with suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including information about group needs and organisation policies and procedures.

You need to show that you have planned and conducted at least 3 different group activities for groups with diverse participant profiles, including:

  1. identified financial, human and resources needed
  2. worked collaboratively with groups to plan activities
  3. facilitated at least three different group sessions, each of at least of five people, using the following communication and interpersonal skills:
    1. listening
    2. questioning
    3. effective non-verbal communication
    4. empathetic responding
    5. paraphrasing
    6. summarising
    7. negotiation
    8. techniques for maintaining group cohesion
    9. conflict resolution.

 

Interview/assignment questions

  1. What are the legal and ethical considerations for group work? In your answer, consider:
    1. codes of conduct
    2. discrimination
    3. duty of care
    4. mandatory reporting
    5. privacy, confidentiality and disclosure
    6. records management
    7. responsibilities and limitations in role boundaries
    8. work health and safety
  2. How are these considerations applied in organizations? In individual practice?
  3. Explain the principle and processes of strengths-based practice.
  4. What kinds of groups are often run in community services? What is the purpose of each kind of group?
  5. What kinds of resources are needed for group activities in your organization? Consider the following:
    1. venues
    2. equipment
    3. information materials
    4. administrative support
    5. specialist expertise
  6. Explain how to engage in group planning.
  7. What would you do if if was very difficult to get others ot be involved in planning a group activity?
  8. What makes group planning sessions successful?
  9. What are the pitfalls in managing group planning sessions? How do you resond to each one?
  10. Explain each of the following communication techniques and how to apply it when leading a group:
    1. collaboration
    2. conflict resolution
    3. different styles of group leadership
    4. effective non-verbal communication
    5. empathetic responding
    6. listening
    7. negotiation
    8. paraphrasing
    9. questioning
    10. summarising
    11. techniques for maintaining group cohesion
  11. If a group is together for long enough, it tends to evolve through a series of stages. Describe them, and say how they affect the way you will lead the group.
  12. Some groups are strongly directed by a leader and other groups give group members lots of freedon to do what they want. When is each kind appropriate? When is each kind not appropriate?
  13. What kinds of extra support can groups need. In your answer, consider the following:
    1. information and resources (internal or external)
    2. individualised services
    3. referrals to further support.

Note: Your assessor may also ask you a variety of what if questions.

 

Assignment

Group dynamics assignment

 

Detailed requirements

1. Plan group activities and resources

  1. Review available information and identify the needs of the group
  2. Generate ideas for activities that respond to identified needs
  3. Identify, calculate and document the resources required for group activities
  4. Identify and follow up on the need to make submissions for potential sources of assistance and resources within scope of own job role
  5. Organise resources according to organisation procedures

 

2. Coordinate group planning processes

  1. Seek opportunities actively for collaborative planning and shared ownership with clients
  2. Solicit, analyse and prioritise information about group’s needs and expectations
  3. Negotiate the purpose of group activities with the group allowing time and opportunity for individuals to articulate their ideas and wishes
  4. Translate purpose of proposed group activity into a set of documented aims and objectives based on input
  5. Analyse potential impact on group operation of the values and beliefs of both worker and client
  6. Design group strategies that promote effective group operation and take into account specific characteristics of participating clients

 

3. Manage group processes and conflict

  1. Promote opportunities for open dialogue and active listening between group members
  2. Encourage and model sensitivity to diverse participants
  3. Use strategies to prevent conflict within own role, power and capacity
  4. Identify and reinforce the outcomes of positive
  5. conflict
  6. Clarify and confirm principles and practices of conflict resolution in a group and seek agreement to implement them
  7. Encourage acknowledgement of rights and responsibilities and perceptions of all participants in the conflict situation
  8. Offer opportunity to all participants for debriefing, support, mediation, consultation and facilitation

 

4. Evaluate group activities

  1. Ensure aims and objectives of the group activity provide the basis for evaluation and feedback
  2. Ask for feedback from group participants on leadership style, group process, achievement of objectives, other achievements and areas for development
  3. Document evaluation information according to organisation procedures and distribute to relevant people

 

5. Other.

  1. Manage tasks and contingencies on the job.
  2. Follow Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand standards, and industry codes of practice.