Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.) Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families Syllabus - Mumbai University
This is the syllabus of the College of Social Work (Empowered Autonomous), Nirmala Niketan, which is the only college offering the B.S.W. under the University of Mumbai. The college has been autonomous since 2019-20 and empowered autonomous since 2024-25, so it sets this syllabus and conducts these examinations itself, and the degree awarded is still a University of Mumbai degree. The University last set a common B.S.W. paper of its own in 2019; this is the current document, amended in June 2026.
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Syllabus for Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families
About this course
Social work Practice with Individuals and Families is a practice course that prepares undergraduate learners for generalist practice with individuals and families as frontline workers in the context of their social environments. Drawing on person-in-environment and strengths- based perspectives, this course assists learners with the knowledge, skills and values necessary to engage in the problem-solving process at the micro level of practice. Within ecological model, this course helps learners to appreciate changing realities of families in Indian context using family life-cycle approach.
Course objectives
- Enable learners to
- Gain understanding of human behaviour and issues arising in the lives of individuals and families in their social environments.
- Analyse and apply set of ethical principles inherent in social work profession.
- Learn about problem-solving approach to practice the processes of engagement, assessment, intervention and evaluation at the micro level of practice;
- Analyse diverse families using family systems and family life-cycle approach.
Learning outcomes
- CO 41 Demonstrate use of principles of social work while working with individuals and families.
- CO 42 Discuss the strengths and challenges in their social environment which guides individuals and families in the problem-solving process.
- CO 43 Apply all skills of problem-solving process: intake and engaging, meaningful assessment of the problem situation, developing plan of intervention, carrying out psychosocial interventions, evaluation, termination and follow-up.
- CO 44 Prepare action-plan to intervene at micro-level using range of psycho-social interventions with individuals and families.
Unit I: Overview of method
- Overview: Concept of SW with Individuals & Families
- Principles of Work with Individuals and Families
- 5Ps- Person, Place, Problem, Process, Professional
- Use of Self in social work practice
- Families in India- Evoing nature of families
- Understanding Family as system & Family life cycle approach
Essential readings
- Upadhyay R.K. Social Casework: A Therapeutic Approach, Rawat Publications, Jaipur and New Delhi, 2010
- Desai, M. (2011). A Rights- Based Preventive Approach for Psychosocial Well-being in Childhood. Springer
- Prasad Devi.B, Juvva Srilatha & Nayar Mahima (eds.) (2020). The Contemporary Indian Family: Transitions and Diversity. Routledge, London & New York
Unit II: Problem- solving Process
- Overview of Problem- solving Process:
- Phases of Problem- solving process:
- Intake and Engagement, Assessment, Intervention, Termination and Evaluation, Follow-up
- Types of Psychosocial interventions with individuals and families
Essential readings
- An Introduction to Social Casework by Grace Mathew, TISS, 1992
- Psychosocial First Aid for children affected by Covid- 19: A manual for First Responders, NIMHANS
Reproduced from Regulations and Syllabus of Bachelor of Social Work Degree (2023), Amended 2026, published by the College of Social Work (Empowered Autonomous), Nirmala Niketan, which is affiliated to the University of Mumbai and sets this syllabus itself. Wording is as printed in that document.
The complete syllabus
This subject is cut from the college's own syllabus document. Open it here if you want the whole thing rather than a single subject.