Social work is among the professions in the UAE on the rise with a high demand for professional and competent individuals to serve the concentration of population on social development, community welfare, and mental health. In most cases, international social workers seeking employment in the UAE usually receive visa sponsorship more so among the clients that work in nonprofit making organizations, government institutions, hospitals, and schools. 

Job Details

• Job Title: Social Worker
• Location: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah
• Employment Type: Full-time positions
• Visa Sponsorship: Many employers offer visa sponsorship

Why choose social work in the UAE?

The UAE has been designing programs in social welfare and mental health support while employing people in counseling, case management, family services, and rehabilitation. Visas are usually sponsored for these social work jobs on qualifications and experiences in niche areas; the UAE has therefore become a magnet place for social workers around the world.

Requirements

• Educational Background A Bachelor’s degree in a field such as social work, psychology, or counseling is required. Others require a master’s degree.
• Certifications and Licensing Some positions require special certificates, such as the Licensed Clinical Social Worker or LCSW. In Dubai, workers are usually licensed by the DHA or DCD of the Department of Community Development.
• Relevant Experience: The recruiters are interested in candidates with experience from 1-2 years in the field specified above. Senior positions would entail at least 3-5 years in the specified field.
• Language Skills: A candidate should be conversant in English. However, knowledge of Arabic adds an advantage and is desired for specific posts in areas where the work pertains to the local population.
• Cultural Competency: There is a need for awareness and sensitivity towards cultural nuances in the UAE as social workers will be working with diverse populations.

Benefits

• Visa Sponsorship: Visa sponsorship is usually provided by most large employers and some government employers, which enables expatriate professionals to work in the UAE with good working conditions.
• Good Pay: The salaries for the UAE’s social workers are pretty good, without any form of taxation on pay and loads of benefits.
• Benefits mostly cover health insurance, house allocation or allowance, annual leave paid, and traveling allowance.
• Professional Growth: Social workers are allowed to acquire constant and modern training and development to take the lead in the UAE’s professions.
• Multicultural Working Environment: The UAE is multicultural in people and has a diversified working environment that enables the social worker to develop experiences professionally as well as personally in a unique way.

Duties

• Client Assessment and Services: Social workers evaluate selected cases, make a case plan, and provide consultancy to individuals and communities.
• Case Management: It includes casework, recording, and updating the clients’ files, coordination of services, and following up on the clients.
• Advocacy and Support Services: It offers resources and referrals for the clients while advocating for the same clients and guiding the clients through social services
• Community Outreach: It plans and attends community outreach programs aimed at increasing public awareness about social issues and support services.
• Response areas include crisis cases like family crises, mental health emergencies, and the need for rehabilitation.

Salary

• Entry-level: AED 8,000 to AED 12,000 monthly
• Mid-level: After having 3 to 5 years of experience: roughly AED 12,000 to AED 18,000 in a month.
• Senior-Level Social Worker: AED 18,000 – AED 25,000+ per month
• Clinical Social Worker, Mental Health Counselor, etc: AED 20,000 – AED 30,000+ per month

Types of Jobs

Family Social Worker: A family social worker helps families with problems such as domestic conflict, parenting problems, and financial problems. Apply Now

Medical Social Worker: Medical social workers work with hospital patients, clinic patients, and rehabilitation centers in handling diagnoses, treatment plans, and post-hospitalization. Apply Now

School Social Worker: Supports students in schools about their social, emotional as well as behavioral needs. Apply Now

Mental Health Counselor: Provides counseling to the mentally ill. Mental health counselors are mainly licensed professionals who are employed in hospitals private practices or community centers. Apply Now

Community Outreach Specialist: Comprises communities whose interest cuts across societal issues and healthy lifestyles, hence giving people access to sources of various resources. Apply Now

How to Find the Social Care Jobs in UAE?

Use the job portals: Any of the job portals will give you information about in-demand social work jobs in UAE. You will need to search with keywords, for example, “social worker,” “counselor,” and “case manager,” but you then type in “UAE.”

Target key employers: Government departments, such as the Dubai Health Authority, hospitals; not-for-profit organizations; and schools. Most probably, these employers would be able to sponsor visas for a qualified international social worker.

Prepare your paperwork: degree, certificates, work experience records, and licenses. Many employers require transcripts or other proof of qualification.

An application: at the resume, write the skills qualifications, and experiences which can be applied to this position. Also, draw their attention to cross-cultural experience and know-how of the Arabic language.