Staff Support Groups in the Helping Professions

Principles, Practice and Pitfalls

David Kennard editor Phil Hartley editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:23rd Apr '09

Should be back in stock very soon

This paperback is available in another edition too:

Staff Support Groups in the Helping Professions cover

Staff burnout and work-related stress in mental health professionals cost the National Health Service not only millions of pounds each year, but also impact upon the welfare of those being cared for. Staff Support Groups in the Helping Professions takes the lead from recent Department of Health initiatives, promoting the use of staff support groups to foster emotional resilience, deal with potential conflict and support reflective practice.

In this book Hartley, Kennard and their contributors explore the influences that help and hinder the setting up and running of staff support groups, and attempt to counter the often negative reactions that the term 'staff support' can evoke. They demonstrate that such support groups can be a sophisticated and valuable intervention that needs careful preparation and skilful management to succeed, and will in turn not only benefit the individual, but also the department as a whole and those that they care for.

Contributors share their experiences of facilitating support groups in a number of settings including:

  • psychiatric wards
  • therapeutic communities
  • social services
  • schools
  • children's homes.

Containing a wealth of case material, Staff Support Groups in the Helping Professions will provide much-needed guidance for those professionals attending, managing, or in the process of setting up a staff support group.

"This is the first book of its kind on facilitating staff support groups within health, social and educational settings... it has been a privilege to review this unique book. Readers, whether novice or experienced in facilitating groups, will be enlightened by the authors' vast array of experience and reflection in setting up and running staff support groups in diverse health, social and educational settings."- Allen Senivassen, Journal of Social Work Practice, Vol. 24, No. 1, March 2010

"Staff Support Groups in the Helping Professions left me realistically optimistic about the value of staff support groups and I would recommend it to anyone commissioning such a group, as well as to potential facilitators."- Christopher Davies, Therapy Today, February 2010


"This is the first book of its kind on facilitating staff support groups within health, social and educational settings... it has been a privilege to review this unique book. Readers, whether novice or experienced in facilitating groups, will be enlightened by the authors' vast array of experience and reflection in setting up and running staff support groups in diverse health, social and educational settings."- Allen Senivassen, Journal of Social Work Practice, Vol. 24, No. 1, March 2010

"Staff Support Groups in the Helping Professions left me realistically optimistic about the value of staff support groups and I would recommend it to anyone commissioning such a group, as well as to potential facilitators."- Christopher Davies, Therapy Today, February 2010

"In addition to its useful content, the print style and layout of the book are inviting with a good bibliography and subject index. It will appeal to practitioners and would-be practitioners alike, and perhaps offer some ideas on research questions for those wishing to make a contribution to the research knowledge on staff support groups." - Penny Pannell, Psychodynamic Practice, Vol. 16, No. 2, June 2010

ISBN: 9780415447744

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 340g

216 pages