CDA licence must for
social care workers

This decision came after the CDA recently received the professional dossiers of social care professionals from the DHA as part of the second phase of implementing the Dubai Government Executive Council Decision No. 20 of 2011 directing to organise social work careers in the emirate.

The new law covers all social care professions in Dubai and aims to introduce global best practices in social care and bring about greater accountability to the profession. By defining and streamlining social care through licensing, the new system will help elevate social care standards and attract new talent into the sector to provide the vulnerable sections of the community with the services they deserve.

“The CDA and the DHA are joining hands to implement the directive by sharing the professional details of the social care professionals. We are working towards ensuring that the rules, regulations and policies are standardised and to global standards,” said Dr Omar Al Muthanna, CEO of Social Regulatory and Licensing Sector at the CDA.

“CDA invites all social care professionals licensed by the DHA to contact our officials, so they can be provided necessary assistance to obtain their licences, which are made mandatory to offer social care services,” Dr Al Muthanna added. The Social Regulatory and Licensing Sector at the CDA is the executive administration entrusted with the implementation and management of a progressive regulatory and licensing system that safeguards the social care beneficiaries in Dubai.

All social care workers, special education teachers, therapists and counsellors working in Dubai, including in the free zones, must obtain the licence issued by the CDA.

“We congratulate the CDA for their notable role in implementing the Executive Council decision No. 20, which will inevitably enhance social care professional services in Dubai. We will extend all support and assistance to our partners in the Social and Regulatory Sector at the CDA,” said Dr Ramadan Ibrahim Mohammed, Director of Health Regulation Department at the DHA. The licensing system creates a strong platform for advancing social care through knowledge-building and attracting fresh talent into this sector.

“We are committed to enabling competent and high quality social care, and to encourage professionals and organisations to join in our efforts, we have exempted licensing from any fee,” added Dr Omar Al Muthanna.

The CDA will undertake routine inspection in various organisations including in the free zones, to ensure that the social care professionals employed are licensed. Fines will be imposed on organisations employing people without the CDA licence for providing social care service. The final date for obtaining the licence is end July 2012. The sector aims to improve the standards of quality of social sector services and enhance the standards of safety.

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