The Department of Community Development – Abu Dhabi (DCD) has hosted a ceremony for 42 graduates from the second batch of the Capacity Building Program for Social Care Professionals, celebrating the achievement of meeting the requirements and tests developed in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU).

The ceremony, which was held at Manarat Al Saadiyat, was attended by His Excellency Engineer Hamad Ali Al Dhaheri, Undersecretary of DCD, His Excellency Abdullah Al Ameri, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority (ADSSA), Her Excellency Dr Bushra Al Mulla, Director-General of the Family Care Authority (FCA), Mubarak Al Ameri, Executive Director of the Social Licensing & Control Sector of the DCD, as well as representatives from the social sector in Abu Dhabi, and Abu Dhabi Police.

Mubarak Al Ameri, Executive Director of the Social Licensing & Control Sector of the DCD, said: “The DCD is keen to support and empower the social sector and its workers – all of whom are professionals licensed by the department – by developing their competencies, raising the level of their professional performance, and improving their skills. This is in line with DCD’s overarching vision of enhancing the quality of services offered to society by advancing professional groups, which serve as the cornerstone of the development of healthy societies, both psychologically and socially.”

Mubarak Al Ameri added that the Capacity Building Program was prepared in cooperation with the College of Human Sciences at UAEU, through three professional diploma programmes: social service, psychology, and family and marriage counselling. These programmes are in line with DCD’s approved categories of social care: social worker, psychologist, and social counsellor.

Al Ameri praised the tireless efforts of the graduates to develop their skills and enhance their awareness by joining the programme. He also highlighted the positive impact of the programme on improving the current capabilities and qualifications of workers in the social sector, ensuring the quality and continuity of services, and providing a decent quality of life for service beneficiaries.

The inaugural batch of the programme graduated during the first quarter of 2023, and totalled 111 graduates from various entities within the social sector, namely the Family Development Foundation (FDF), the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination (ZHO), the Family Welfare Authority, the Abu Dhabi Center for Shelter and Humanitarian Care – Ewaa, ADSSA, the Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities (MBZUH), and Abu Dhabi Police.

The Capacity Building Program for Social Care Professionals is a crucial component of the DCD’s strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the capabilities and competencies of professionals within Abu Dhabi’s social sector. The programme was initiated following the establishment of licensing standards for professionals and the commencement of the licensing project, which aimed to identify the capacity and skill development needs of social care professionals within the social sector.