Kerala PSC Welfare Officer Gr. II Exam Coaching

Salient Features of Indian Constitution

1. Salient Features of the Constitution:
• Preamble: Its significance and role in interpreting the Constitution.
• Fundamental Rights: Their scope and limitations.
• Directive Principles of State Policy: Objectives and implications.
• Relationship between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles.
• Fundamental Duties: Their importance and relevance.

• Structure of Governance:

• Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary at Union and State Levels.
• Other Constitutional Authorities.

• Centre-State Relations:

• Legislative, Administrative, and Financial aspects.

• Services under the Union and the States.

• Emergency Provisions.

• Amendment Provisions of the Constitution.

Social Welfare Legislations and Programmes

• Social Service Legislations:

• Right to Information Act, Prevention of Atrocities against Women & Children, Food Security Act, Environmental Acts, etc.

• Social Welfare Programmes:

• Employment Guarantee Programmes, Organ and Blood Donation initiatives, etc.

Renaissance in Kerala

• Towards a New Society:

• Introduction of English education.
• Role of missionary organizations in establishing educational institutions, factories, and printing presses.

• Efforts to Reform Society:

• Socio-Religious Reform Movements: SNDP Yogam, Nair Service Society, Yogakshema Sabha, Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham, Vaala Samudaya Parishkarani Sabha, Samathwa Samajam, Islam Dharma Paripalana Sangham, Prathyaksha Raksha Daiva Sabha, Sahodara Prasthanam, etc.
• Struggles and Social Revolts:
• Upper Cloth Revolts, Channar Agitation, Vaikom Satyagraha, Guruvayoor Satyagraha, Paliyam Satyagraha, Kuttamkulam Satyagraha.
• Temple Entry Proclamation and Temple Entry Act.
• Malayalee Memorial, Ezhava Memorial.
• Malabar Riots, Civil Disobedience Movement, Abstention Movement.

• Role of the Press in Renaissance:

• Malayalee, Swadeshabhimani, Vivekodayam, Mithavadi, Swaraj, Malayala Manorama, Bhashaposhini, Mathrubhoomi, Kerala Kaumudi, Samadarsi, Kesari, Al-Ameen, Prabhatham, Yukthivadi, etc.

• Awakening through Literature:

• Novels, Drama, Poetry, Purogamana Sahithya Prasthanam, Nataka Prasthanam, Library Movement, etc.

• Women and Social Change:

• Parvathi Nenmenimangalam, Arya Pallam, A.V. Kuttimalu Amma, Lalitha Prabhu, Akkamma Cheriyan, Anna Chandi, Lalithambika Antharjanam, and others.

• Leaders of Renaissance:

• Thycaud Ayya Vaikundar, Sree Narayana Guru, Ayyankali, Chattampi Swamikal, Brahmananda Sivayogi, Vagbhadananda, Poikayil Yohannan (Kumara Guru), Dr. Palpu, Palakkunnath Abraham Malpan, Mampuram Thangal, Sahodaran Ayyappan, Pandit K.P. Karuppan, Pampadi John Joseph, Mannathu Padmanabhan, V.T. Bhattathirippad, Vakkom Abdul Khadar Maulavi, Makthi Thangal, Blessed Elias Kuriakose Chaavra, Barrister G.P. Pillai, T.K. Madhavan, Moorkoth Kumaran, C. Krishnan, K.P. Kesava Menon, Dr. Ayyathan Gopalan, C.V. Kunjuraman, Kuroor Neelakantan Namboothiripad, Velukkutty Arayan, K.P. Vellon, P.K. Chathan Master, K. Kelappan, P. Krishna Pillai, A.K. Gopalan, T.R. Krishnaswami Iyer, C. Kesavan, Swami Ananda Theerthan, M.C. Joseph, Kuttippuzha Krishnapillai, and others.

• Literary Figures:

• Kodungallur Kunhikkuttan Thampuran, Kerala Varma Valiyakoyi Thampuran, Kandathil Varghese Mappila, Kumaran Asan, Vallathol Narayana Menon, Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer, G. Sankara Kurup, Changampuzha Krishna Pillai, Chandu Menon, Vaikom Muhammad Basheer, Kesav Dev, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, Ponkunnam Varkey, S.K. Pottekkatt, and others.

• Definition and Objectives:

1. Social Work: Definition, meaning, purpose, goals, and objectives.
2. Functions and principles of Social Work.

• History of Social Work:

1. From charity to professional Social Work.
2. Contributions from historical periods and reformers.

• Philosophical Bases:

1. Moral and religious values in Social Work.
2. Gandhian Philosophy of Social Work.

• Professional and Voluntary Dimensions:

1. Characteristics of a profession.
2. Social Work as a profession and its evolution.

• Social Work Values and Ethics:

1. NASW Code of Ethics.
2. Ethical dilemmas in Social Work.

• Core Competencies of Practitioners:

1. Holistic view, emotional maturity, cultural competence, etc.

• Classification of Project

Abnormal Psychology

• Abnormality: Concept – Normality vs. Abnormality – Biological, Psycho-social, Sociocultural bases in abnormal behaviour – cultural-bound syndrome – faith healing
• Assessment of Mental Illness: Basic overview regarding classification of mental illnesses – Psychosis and Neuroses
• Systems of Major Classification of Mental Illnesses: ICD-10 and DSM-5

Defence Mechanisms

• Overview of mental illnesses

Theory and Practice of Counselling

• Counselling: Meaning, definition, and scope – Differentiating between Guidance, Counselling and Psychotherapy
• Contexts: Remedial, Preventive, Developmental, Crisis
• Forms: Telephone Counselling, Crisis Counselling, Vocational Counselling
• Goals: Immediate and Long-term
• Theories of Counselling: Psychoanalytic/Psychodynamic theories, behavioural theories, humanistic theories, and existential theories
• Counselling Process and Principles: Phases (stages), Counselling Process, Counselling Principles (Genuineness, Acceptance, Confidentiality, Empathy)
• Counselling Skills and Techniques: Skills (Listening and Responding, Handling Emotions and Problem Solving); Techniques (Initiating Contact, Rapport, Establishing Structure, Attending Behaviour, Observation of Non-verbal Behaviour)
• Case Recording: Use, Structure and Content – Methods of Recording (Verbatim, Narrative, Condensed, Analytical and Summary Records)
• Supervision in Development of Self – Personal and Professional

Counsellor-Counselee Relationship

• Personality Factors of Counsellor
• Importance of Self-awareness, Communication Patterns, Body Language, Feedback
• Factors Influencing the Relationship – Transference and Countertransference
• Professional Ethics in Counselling: Ethical Practices and Standards for Human Service Professions

Therapeutic Approaches to Counselling

1. Client-Centered Therapy
2. Gestalt Therapy
3. Transactional Analysis
4. Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy
5. Behavioural Therapy
6. Reality Therapy
7. Psychoanalysis
8. Group Therapy
9. Mind-Body Medicine: Meditation, Yoga & Bio-feedback

Social Group Work

• Group: Definition, Types, Characteristics, The Impact of Group Experience on the Individual
• Social Group Work: Definition, Objectives, Scope, Purpose
• Principles of Group Work

Social Group Work Process

• Intake, Study, Goal-setting, Intervention, Evaluation
• Stages of Group Development – Goal-setting, Group Norm, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Conflict Resolution
• Programme as a Tool, Principles of Programme Planning, Programme Media, Programme Development Process
• Social Group Work Models
• Group Worker: Role, Functions, Skills, and Qualities

Group Dynamics

• Definition
• Group Processes: Associative and Dissociative Group Process
• Bond, Acceptance, Isolation, Rejection, Conflict and Control
• Subgroups: Meaning and Types
• Tools for Assessing Group Interaction: Sociogram and Sociometry

Social Case Work

• Definition, Nature, Objectives, Relevance, Scope
• Relation of Social Case Work to Other Methods of Social Work
• Historical Development of Social Case Work
• Philosophy of Social Case Work
• Principles and Components of Social Case Work
• Ethical Issues in the Practice of Social Case Work

Overview of Phases of Helping Process in Social Case Work

1. Engagement
2. Exploration
3. Planning: Assessment – Multidimensionality of Assessment
4. Intervention: Implementation and Goal Attainment
5. Evaluation
6. Disengagement/Termination

Intervention Models

• Psychoanalytic Model
• Behavioural Model
• Psychosocial Model
• Functional Model
• Humanistic-Existential Model
• Problem Solving Model
• Crisis Intervention
• Task-centred Model
• Solution-focused Model

Skills and Techniques in Helping Process

• Support, Clarification, Interpretation, Suggestion, Developing Insight, Identification, Resource Utilization, Environmental Modification, Counselling

Social Work Research

• Research Definition and Objectives: Differentiate Social Research and Social Work Research
• Scientific Enquiry: Scope and Nature, Basic Elements of Scientific Method
• Research Paradigms: Quantitative and Qualitative

Quantitative Research Methods in Social Work

• Formulation of Research Problems
• Review of Literature
• Formulation of Research Proposal
• Research Design
• Sampling
• Data Collection
• Data Analysis and Presentation
• Statistical Methods
• Report Writing

Qualitative Research Methods in Social Work

• Approaches in Qualitative Research
• Data Processing and Analysis
• Principles of Triangulation

Project Planning and Management

• Definition of Project and Planning
• Project Cycle

1. Project Planning (Problem Identification, Project Design, Project Appraisal)
2. Project Management (Project Implementation, Monitoring, Review, Evaluation)

Correctional Social Work

1. Concept, Scope, and Techniques

• Application of Social Work in correctional settings.

1. Methods in Institutional and Non-Institutional Correctional Settings

• Dilemmas of Custody
• Corrections Mix
• Corrections as a component of the Criminal Justice System
• Community-based Corrections: Probation, Parole, and Aftercare
• Group Counselling and Group Therapy in Correctional Institutions

III. Problems of Trained Social Workers in Correctional Settings

• Future of Correctional Social Work: Trends and Perspectives
• Social Case Work in Correctional Settings
• Case Conferences
• Role of Other Experts in Correctional Work
• Follow-up and Rehabilitation of Criminals
• Social Work with Women Criminals
• Social Work with Habitual Offenders
• Social Work with Suicidal Individuals

1. I Legal Framework of Corrections in Institutional Settings

• Prison Act, 1894
• Prisoners Act, 1900
• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act, 2002
• Legal Framework of Community-Based Corrections: Probation of Offenders Act, 1958
• Rules for Parole and Premature Release of Prisoners

Administration of Human Service Organisations

1. Administration

• Types of Administration
• Social Administration and Social Work Administration
• Social Work Administration as a method
• Tasks of a Social Work Administrator
• Principles of Social Work Administration

1. Organisation and Management

• Types of Organisations
• Characteristics of Formal and Informal Organisations
• Benefits of Informal Organisations
• Bureaucratic Organisations vs. Human Relations Organisations
• Characteristics of Human Service Organisations (HSO) in comparison with industrial, educational, and health care organisations

III. Administrative Process

• Planning
• Organising
• Staffing
• Directing
• Coordinating
• Reporting
• Budgeting

1. Registration of Organisations

• Advantages of Registering
• Acts for Registering Organisations: Society, Trust, Company’s Act, and Cooperatives Act
• Registration under the Societies Registration Act
• Drawing up of Memorandum of Association, Constitution, and Bye-laws of HSO
• Board Structure: Functions, Types of Members, Qualifications
• Committees and Sub-committees: Types, Roles, and Effective Committee Work
• Holding meetings of statutory bodies, keeping minutes, filing returns, and sending timely reports

1. Personnel Functions in HSO

• Formulating service rules/policies governing recruitment, selection, induction, training and development
• Performance Appraisal, Promotion, Transfer of Staff, and Compensation Package
• Privileges, Personnel Grievance Handling, and Disciplinary Procedures

1. Welfare Programmes

• Objectives, Functions, and Organisational Structure
• Programmes: CSWB, SSWB, Directorate of Social Justice
• Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
• Ministry of Women and Child Development
• Ministry of Youth Welfare

VII. Social Protection

• Concepts of Social Safety Nets for the Poor and Inclusive Growth
• Social Protection & Labour Strategies: Resilience, Equity, and Opportunity
• Role of Civil Society Organisations in Social Protection