The 38th annual national conference of Indian Society of Professional Social Work (ISPSW) will begin at Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP), Kanke, on Friday.

“Governor Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the three-day conference on Friday morning,” CIP director D. Ram, who is also the patron of the event, told reporters at CIP on Thursday.

“Social work practice — emerging trends and challenges is the theme of the annual conference that is being organised in association with CIP. One thousand members and delegates are expected to attend it,” added organising chairperson CRJ Khess.

ISPSW aims at meeting challenges of present day social work practice and creating a platform for information exchange among fellow professionals.

The conference, in a sense, is a homecoming for ISPSW as it was established in Ranchi in 1970 by Dr R.K. Upadhyay, who was then attached to the CIP.

The event will also mark the golden jubilee of ISPSW and also of the department of psychiatric social work of CIP where it is being held.

There will be a few technical sessions during the conference when experts will deliberate on aspects of psychiatric social work.

The status of professional social work in India, psychiatric social work intervention in mental illness and treatment and rehabilitation in psychoactive substance dependence syndrome: multi-disciplinary approach, are some of the key topics that will come up for discussion at the conference.

There will also be sessions on therapist as an instrument in psychosocial interventions and developing therapeutic listening skills in social work and counselling practice.

The alumni, students and staff of CIP will be present at the cultural event in the evenings.