1st Edition

Groups A Guide to Small Group Work in Healthcare, Management, Education and Research

    In this introductory text, the author presents the law relating to child care and the reforms introduced by the Children Act 1989, assessing its impact on child care practice and procedures. Focusing on a practical interpretation of the law by the use of hypothetical examples, practice notes and recommendations, the book illustrates its relevance to those working in the caring and health professions, and incorporates details of various sets of Guidance and Regualtions issued by the Department of Health. In addition it provides an outline of adoption law, the principles of consent to treatment and the effect of surrogacy and "assisted reproduction" on the legal definition of parenthood.

    Section 1: Introduction. What is a group – and what does it do. The group in its wider context. Section 2: The small group process. Setting the scene for effective small group work. Facilitation. Methods used in group work. Forming. Storming and norming.. Performing. Evaluation group process. When groups go wrong. Section 3: Small group work in educational settings. Evidence for effectiveness of small group work in education. A case study of using small groups in postgraduate education – teaching evidence-based health care. The virtual small group. Section 4: Small group work in organisational settings. Group problem solving. Groups across boundaries: multidisciplinary and multi-agency team working.Project management. Leadership. Section 5: Small groups in research. The focus groups as a research tool. Consensus research.

    Biography

    Glyn Elwyn, Trisha Greenhalgh, Fraser Macfarlane