What is termination of group in social work group?

Termination of social group

Members mind could be wavering between feelings of happiness or unhappiness. Heap (1985) termed these as feelings of ambivalence. One state of mind looks at the ending as a good relief as there exists no need to face a number of pressures of coping with the group norms, need not interact with those they do not get along well, perhaps, even the group worker, no longer have to share the private and confidential information particularly in groups where the self disclosure is a precondition and emphasized.

Worker can suggest referral agencies to the members who need guidance and support for other shortcomings in future. Further, the worker give assurance to the members that whatever self-disclosures made by them are kept confidential and will never be used against their interests.

Members themselves share same type of assurances. In addition to these the worker has to do other routine tasks such as preparing a report on the performance of the group, acknowledge the services and support given by resource agencies persons, and pay the pending dues. Therefore, the termination of the group may be scheduled or unscheduled. The unscheduled termination takes place when the members fail to attend the group sessions to various reasons.

It could be due to a faulty enrollment, or failure of the members to develop relationships, or unresolved conflicts among the members and sub-groups,or style of functioning of the worker and so on.

The worker has to be aware of these type of likely reactions and responses of the members to the idea of parting with the group and work towards termination.The preparations for termination are very much included in the middle phase it self. It is important to prepare the members to the fact that what ever desirable behaviour patterns the member/s experience and exhibit have to be carried forward even after the group comes to an end.

The worker has to create situations within the group environment and even identify the real life situations where the member/s can act out the changed behaviors independently. This takes care of many of the members worry about missing the group support once the group ends.

Some follow-up sessions can be promised to reassure the member/s that they are not totally abandoned. Some support and guidance is still available either from worker or other members. The worker shall arrange activities wherein both worker and other members express their assessment of the progress already made and improvements to be made by each and every one of them. This exercise makes room for the group to deliberate upon what efforts the member/s have to make after the termination.