Lessons learnt from group work during COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

This reflective essay seeks to detail lessons learnt from conducting group work for migrant workers with COVID-19. In response to rapidly emerging psychosocial needs, Medical Social Workers (MSWs) from Tan Tock Seng Hospital conceptualised and facilitated activities targeted at improving the workers’ psychosocial well-being. The need for response to rapidly evolving psychosocial needs meant limited time for systematic needs assessment and evaluation of activities. Activities encouraging non-verbal forms of expression were useful in overcoming language barriers and adoption of the participatory paradigm for ongoing assessment and evaluation of the activities helps create a more culturally appropriate intervention for this vulnerable population.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• pandemic
• migrant worker
• group work
• participatory

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Ms Karen Kwa for her support and guidance throughout the whole project as well as partnering colleagues from Department of Care and Counselling of Tan Tock Seng Hospital for their contribution of ideas to the project.

Authors declare no conflict of interest related to this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Janet Hoon Ru Lim

Janet Hoon Ru Lim is Senior Medical Social Worker with Tan Tock Seng Hospital. She has obtained her Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Social Work and Master of Social Work from the National University of Singapore and has a clinical interest in neurological rehabilitation care and group work practice.

Jude Lim

Qing Hui Lee is Medical Social Worker with Tan Tock Seng Hospital. She has obtained her Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) from the National University of Singapore and has a clinical interest in oncology, palliative and end-of-life care.

Qing Hui Lee

Qing Hui Lee is Medical Social Worker with Tan Tock Seng Hospital. She has obtained her Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) from the National University of Singapore and has a clinical interest in oncology, palliative and end-of-life care.

Shiao Wei Lim

Jude Lim is Medical Social Worker with Tan Tock Seng Hospital. He has obtained his Bachelor of Social Work from the Singapore University of Social Sciences and has a clinical interest in geriatric medicine and community care.

Shiao Wei Lim is Medical Social Worker with Tan Tock Seng Hospital. She has obtained her Bachelor of Arts from the National University of Singapore and has a clinical interest in oncology, palliative and end-of-life care.

Eugene Yong Quan Wong

Eugene Yong Quan Wong is Medical Social Worker with Tan Tock Seng Hospital. He has obtained his Bachelor of Social Work from the Singapore University of Social Sciences and has a clinical interest in geriatric medicine and community care.

Tian Wui Tan

Tian Wui Tan, is Principal Medical Social Worker with Tan Tock Seng Hospital. He has obtained his Master of Social Work (Australia) and Graduate Diploma in Counselling Practice (Singapore). His clinical interests are in stroke rehabilitation and community health.

Ivan Mun Hong Woo

Dr Ivan Mun Hong Woo, is Principal Medical Social Worker with Tan Tock Seng Hospital and a Faculty Member with Centre of Healthcare Innovation in Singapore. He has obtained his Doctor of Philosophy – Social Work from the National University of Singapore. His research and clinical interests are in grief and bereavement care and palliative and end-of-life care.