CENTRE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING

Tata Institute of Social Sciences

PO Box 8313, Deonar,

Mumbai 400088

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS TRAINING FOR HUMAN SERVICE PROFESSIONALS

January 12 to March 06, 2009

About the Programme

All people need to use interpersonal skills in the course of every day living to be able to experience enriching lives. The territory is already familiar. The range of what constitutes interpersonal skills is vast. A short list of such skills would include at least the following: counselling, group membership skills, assertiveness, social skills, interviewing skills of various sorts, writing skills, using the telephone and group facilitation skills. Examples of how such skills are used in a range of settings are also numerous and would include the following among many others:

Counselling skills: counselling colleagues, friends, clients and customers;

Assertiveness skills: returning faulty goods, saying 'no', keeping to contracts and agreements;

Social skills: introducing yourself, attending meetings, working with the general public, with customers and clients;

Facilitation skills: running meetings and groups, chairing discussions and organizing planning meetings.

All professional people need and use a variety of interpersonal skills in every aspect of their work. The difficult thing, however, is to teach these skills to other people. Very often, they are learned through the process known as 'setting with Nellie'; the new professional is supposed to pick up various skills through observing older and more experienced colleagues at work. The problem arises when those colleagues demonstrate that they do not have particular interpersonal skills! Arguably, this situation has arisen because those colleagues were given no formal training either and so the cycle of events is continued.

However, skills alone will not suffice. Behind and alongside the practice of interpersonal skills must be a set of values, a series of attitudes, all of which contribute to the 'human' element of interpersonal behaviour. We cannot afford to train ourselves and others in a range of skills alone. While the skills are being used, there must be a reflection of the human being that lies behind them. In fact it can be stated more strongly: the interpersonally skilled person is one who demonstrates humane, caring qualities. A basic cluster of such necessary qualities may be identified as: warmth, genuineness, empathy, and unconditional positive regard (Rogers 1967).

Interpersonal Skills Training as an enabling and resilience-building process has tremendous significance in the context of the modern day world. In this nexus, the existing geo-socio-cultural situation and subsequent changes occurring in and around us have implications on the day-to-day functioning of individuals. Consequently, human relationships and life patterns are becoming increasingly complex and challenging. As a result, pressures and demands of living place tremendous strain on our ability to cope effectively. Incidences of stress-related breakdowns are on the rise. Thus, Interpersonal Skills Training as a helping tool to aid individuals to deal effectively with adversities is gaining momentum. Application of Interpersonal Skills Training is becoming a central feature of the work of all human service professionals. In fact, a heavy demand is placed on such professionals in different settings (health, education, welfare, industrial and so on) to be effective in their interpersonal relationships at the work place. Additionally, administrators and managers of programmes/schemes also are resorting to training in interpersonal effectiveness at different levels in their organizations. As a result, such training is imperative for enhancing quality of the work etc.

In response to this training need, the Centre for Lifelong Learning proposes to offer a short term programme in "Interpersonal Skills Training for Human Service Professionals".

This programme offers grounding in practical interpersonal skills training. Additionally, participants of the programme will be facilitated to explore their personal qualities, develop appropriate qualities for interpersonal effectiveness and identify directions for their self-growth and development. Hence, it will be beneficial for any one working in a caring/helping profession and also to those in a managerial/supervisory professional role.

Objectives of the Programme

After completing the Course, the learners would be able to:

Explore and develop the essential qualities for enhanced personal and professional development

Understand the importance, nature and types of Interpersonal Skills: counselling and interviewing, communication and assertiveness, exploration and effective management of emotions, problem solving, facilitation and social skills

Develop competencies for interpersonal effectiveness

Programme Content

I. Interpersonal Skills Training

·         Importance and meaning of Interpersonal Skills.

·         Scope and types of Interpersonal Skills.

·         Personal qualities essential for interpersonal effectiveness

II. Practice Skills

·         Inter-personal Communication

·         Counselling :

1.       Nature, Scope, Types and Models of Counselling: Psycho-analytic, Behavioural, Gestalt, Humanistic, RET and Egan's Model of Helping

2.       Counselling Plan and Process

3.       Skills for supportive counselling early identification of problems and  timely referrals

4.       Creative arts as facilitative tools in counselling (dance and movement, dramatics and storytelling, art, recreation and games)

·         Exploration and Management of Emotions

·         Problem Solving and Conflict Resolution

·         Assertiveness Training

·         Group Facilitation Skills

III. Personal and Professional Growth

·         Self-awareness in the context of thoughts, feelings, behaviour towards becoming an effective professional

·         Developing proficiency in practicing Interpersonal Skills

·         Effective coping, stress management and self-renewal

·         Ethical responsibilities and issues

Programme Details

Mode                                                                Part-time Evening Programme

(Monday – Friday : 5.30 p.m. – 08.30 p.m.)

Location                                                            TISS

Duration                                                            12th January to 06th March, 2009

Medium of Instruction                                         English

Fees                                                                 Rs.2500/- (Course fee)

Eligibility Requirement                                        Graduate in any discipline with minimum two years of experience in any helping/teaching profession

Selection Procedure                                           Applications will be screened to ascertain one's suitability. If required, candidates will be called for an interview.

Contact Person                                                  Ms. Sabiha Vasi

Assistant Professor & Programme Coordinator

Centre for Lifelong Learning

Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Deonar,

Mumbai – 400 088.

Tel. 25525682 / 25525681/ 25525000

Application Forms                                              Available with the Centre's Secretary from

10.30 a.m. – 05.00 p.m. (Monday – Friday)

Last Date for Receipt for Applications                  7th January, 2009

The Application Form and further information can be obtained from the Centre for Lifelong Learning, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Deonar, Mumbai – 400 088.

Tel.: 25525681 (Ms. Sabiha Vasi); 25525682 (Ms. Bhargavi). Also the Application Form may be downloaded from the TISS website: www.tiss.edu

TATA INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

DEONAR, MUMBAI – 400 088

Centre for Lifelong Learning

Application Form for the Interpersonal Skills Training for Human Service Professionals (2009)

(For the candidate to fill in the details)

Cash Receipt No. :

Date

Or Bank Draft No.

Date

Name of the Bank

Affix your Recent Pass Port Size

 
Photograph here

1.       Full Name (IN CAPITAL LETTERS)

……………………………………………………………………………………..

(First Name) (Middle Name) (Surname)

2.       Age as on January 2009 …………………………………………………………

(Years) (Months)

3.       Current Postal Address in CAPITAL LETTERS for communication

……………………………………………………………………………………...

……………………………………………………………………………………..

Telephone No. ………………..Work ………………………………Residence

Fax No. ………………………. E-mail:……………………………………………

4. Permanent Address (If different from above):

……………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………….

5. Education Background (Beginning with the last qualification)

6.       Languages Known (specify)

7. Are you employed? If yes, please give following details of your past and present job and if attending during work hours attach the "No Objection Certificate" from the employer.

8. Describe how you developed an interest in the field of social work and any relevant counselling work done by you.

9. Mention any special information, which you would like to give.

10 List your extra-curricular and leisure time activities, if any.

Declaration of the Applicant

I hereby certify that the information provided in this application is complete and accurate. I agree that on being admitted, I shall abide by the rules and regulation of the Institute.

Place : …………………………. ……………………………………..

Date : …………………………. (Signature of the Applicant)