Dubai: The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai has announced the launch of the phased implementation of the Social Care Facilities Service Quality Standards Project in the Emirate of Dubai. This follows the completion of a comprehensive review and development of the standards, which were initially tested in select social facilities that volunteered to pilot and assess their application.

The standards were developed following the methodology of the International Society for Quality in Health and Social Care (ISQua) and drew upon insights from workshops and brainstorming sessions with social service providers across the private, non-profit, and government sectors, as well as field experts. This collaborative effort, conducted in partnership with the General Secretariat of the Executive Council, also involved benchmarking against the quality standards of countries recognized for best practices.

This initiative establishes an effective framework for protecting social service users, minimizing disparities in service quality, and ensuring that services are delivered at a high standard. It also sets a clear methodology for quality assurance, encourages investment in social services, reduces financial burdens on service recipients, and aligns with leading international practices in social care for the most vulnerable populations.

The standards encompass three primary categories: administrative standards, service standards, and client rights standards, some of which are advisory while others are foundational. Altogether, over 58 standards will be periodically assessed across 95 social care service providers licensed by the Community Development Authority and authorized to deliver social care services in the Emirate of Dubai.

Harez Al Mur Bin Harez, CEO of the Regulation and Social Services Sector at the Community Development Authority, stated that by 2026, the gradual implementation of these standards will become mandatory for all social care service providers in Dubai. Providers will be required to secure the Authority’s accreditation by meeting the core standards and will be classified on a scale of one to five stars based on their compliance. Accredited providers will then undergo periodic re-evaluation, guided by service risk levels and previous assessment results, ensuring full adherence to the standards across all service providers by the end of 2026.

He stated, "The adoption of these standards by social establishments will help ensure that clients receive high-quality social care services and enable them to make informed choices when selecting service providers. This initiative will also enhance confidence in the level of social services in Dubai, creating an opportunity to attract clients from both citizens and residents of neighboring countries."

He added, "The standards are organized into three main categories, including 16 standards dedicated to client rights. These cover a range of services that contribute to social development broadly and, more specifically, to the protection, care, empowerment, and integration of the most vulnerable groups. This includes awareness and counseling services, non-medical shelter, day care, home care, and rehabilitation."

The standards are divided into three main categories based on social care risk factors. The first category focuses on leadership and management and includes 21 standards addressing effective governance and oversight across all areas of the service provider’s operations. The second category centers on service provision, comprising 21 standards—both foundational and advisory—that emphasize a person-centered approach to comprehensively address clients' needs and preferences. The third category, client rights, encompasses 16 standards aimed at safeguarding client rights, with a focus on the provider’s commitment to upholding the dignity and confidentiality of care recipients, particularly among the most vulnerable groups.