Skill Training for Social Workers: A Manual, responds to the demand for indigenous textbooks and teaching materials for social work educators, scholars and students. Unlike theory books of social work which list the skills required for the practice of social work methods but do not enable the development of these skills, this manual bridges the gap by providing concrete exercises for the development of method-linked skills. Some of its main features are:
- Includes theoretical inputs, games and exercises on the theme of understanding perception, self-awareness, sensitivity, communication and working with individuals and groups.
- Covers a variety of topics, role plays, songs, case studies, street plays and exercises on self-awareness, self-development, SWOT analyses, communication, goal setting, time management and stress management.
- Allows for flexibility to adapt modules to the local realities, drawing from students’ field experiences and using indigenous agency case records or material.
This manual carries a continuous discourse on developing interactive work ability in individuals, ensuring the holistic professional development of the trainees. It helps them understand their values and capacities as professionals and equips them for skilled intervention for working at different levels, with a variety of client groups. It facilitates the inculcation of professional and global competencies essential for social workers. It will also be useful to trainers in other fields who seek to develop skills in working with people and their problems.
Bawikar, Ruma: -
Ruma Bawikar has been a senior faculty member at the Karve Institute of Social Service, Pune for the last 30 years. She has worked as a trainer and consultant in various consortiums in partnership with international organisations for Rural Drinking Water Schemes for the Government of Maharashtra. She has extensive experience of working with networks involved in child rights and has conducted various researches funded by the UNICEF and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of Maharashtra.
Datar, Sudha: -
Sudha Datar is retired senior faculty at the Karve Institute of Social Service. She has extensive experience as counsellor in the field of Mental Health and Community Health and has conducted many studies on 'Acceptance of Self and Others' with various target groups, especially with social work trainees. She is also consultant to the Fulfilling Peoples Aspiration India (FPAI), Pune for their extension projects.
Masdekar, Ujwala: -
Ujwala Masdekar is part of the faculty at the Karve Institute of Social Service for the last 14 years. She has worked as Gender Expert and consultant on various projects funded by the International organisations for Rural Drinking Water Schemes of the Government of Maharashtra and has extensive experience of working with NGOs involved in Saving and Credit group for women. She has also conducted various research studies which are funded by the Kibi International University, Japan; Government of Maharashtra Ministry of Women and Child Development, Mahila Aarthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM), UNICEF. She has written manuals for NGOs and village committees on conflict resolution, women's participation in Drinking Water and Sanitation programme. She is also a trainer on gender sensitivity and equality for different NGOs and MAVIM districts level implementers.
Rao, Geeta: -
Geeta Rao is a senior lecturer at the Karve Institute of Social Service. She has been practitioner for 14 years in the field of Medical and Psychiatric Social Work, with special focus on 'Caring of the Aged'. She is team leader and project incharge of many researches and evaluation studies in the field of health. She is an expert in skill training in counselling and her work has been with individuals and families. Also, she is member of the Visitors Committee of Regional Mental Hospital, Yerawada, Pune and visiting faculty at the Cipla Palliative Care and Training Centre, Pune.
Rao, Nagmani: -
Nagmani Rao has been working in the field of development since 21 years and has been teaching at the Karve Institute of Social Service since 1995. She has been part of the women's movement since 1978, in mobilisation, research and training. She has written extensively on issues of women and rural toilers as well as academic writing related to teaching social work students. She has been consultant with research and community development organisations and has been involved in research projects related to women, community development, functional review of government departments and Total Literacy Campaign. She has conducted training on development issues and participatory research for senior government functionaries, NGO field staff, professional students of agriculture and engineering, college teachers and development practitioners.
