Foundation GroupWork Skills (FGWS)

The Foundation Groupwork Skills Training is a three-day course in group-work facilitation. We aim to hold an annual practice exchange open to all groupwork staff, who have previously attended the training.

The aim of the training is to provide underpinning knowledge and core skills in generic group-work facilitation. This course has been designed to complement the existing National training courses in specific practice areas of programme delivery, and should be seen as a foundation for all other group-work or facilitator training – including Moving Forward: Making Changes, CONSTRUCTS PSSO and Caledonian.

Ideally, participants will undertake the Foundation Groupwork Skills training prior to any programme specific training. However, there will also be Criminal Justice Social Work staff and those in partner organisations, who are involved in other, varied group-work settings, or programmes, who may benefit from the course, so it should not be seen as exclusive to nationally accredited programme delivery.

The course is participative, giving those taking part an opportunity to practice facilitation skills throughout.

The course is assessed, with feedback from both peers and course tutors during the practice sessions.

Staff are offered individual feedback from course tutors at the end of the third day.

There will be an emphasis on reflective practice, and participants will be encouraged to reflect on the learning from each session.