A ressignificação do trabalho com grupos na área da saúde presente na prática do Serviço Social contemporâneo

Abstract

This study aims to identify which knowledge is necessary for social work practice with groups. Critically analyzing the meaning of professional practice with groups we situate it historically, and give it a new significance, taking into account both social achievements and theoretical-methodological advance in the health area during the last three decades. To achieve this end, we conducted a qualitative research with theoretical and empirical character. In the interpretation of data we employed the content analysis method proposed by Bardin applied to the speeches of the research subjects. Our sampling consisted of three groups: (a) Teaching subjects (three teachers of social work disciplines were chosen) (b) Institutional subjects (three institutions of higher education in social work were elected) (c) Practice subjects (12 social workers who perform work with groups in their professional practice were recruited). For data collection, we used participant observation and a semi-structured interview which featured some guiding questions about structure and strategies for working with groups in its design. The results showed that the work with groups was identified as an instrument that teaching and practice subjects may use to face the demands of public health network users. The theoretical and methodological foundations are identified with the interdisciplinary and interventional nature of social work itself with approaches focused on knowledge transfer and on building competence and skills to interact autonomously in health assistance request