Following his recent success at the WMCA Excellence in Care Awards, we met with award-winner Mohsin Abdul, one of the dedicated team members from Caring with Dignity Limited based in Dudley, to learn more about the journey behind his achievement.
Mo, recognised for his outstanding contribution as an international care worker, shared with us the experiences, challenges, and personal philosophy that have shaped the remarkable impact he makes every day. His story highlights not only his own dedication, but also the invaluable role international care workers play across our communities.
A Journey Built on Purpose
When Mohsin Abdul arrived in the UK on the 23rd November 2022, alongside his wife and two children, he came with three clear goals: personal growth, professional development, and the desire to contribute socially to his new community. Since arriving, Mo and his family have also welcomed a baby daughter, now six months old.
From our perspective, within just three years he has not only met those goals – he has excelled. But in Mo’s eyes, the journey is far from complete; he insists there is always more to learn, more to give, and more room to grow.
Overcoming Challenges & Finding Home in the West Midlands
Mo’s transition to the UK wasn’t without challenges. His first month was spent searching for somewhere to live, travelling between Reading and the West Midlands while settling in. Like many international care workers, navigating unfamiliar systems,from housing to local geography, required resilience and adaptability.
Yet he quickly grew to love Dudley, its space, its calmness, and even its grey skies! He explains that learning to drive and transferring his international licence was another significant early milestone, giving him the independence essential in a community-based care role.
Preparing for a New Life in Care
Originally from India, Mo had already taken remarkable steps to prepare for a career in UK care. Before arriving, he invested personally in professional voice training to communicate clearly with older people, particularly those with hearing impairments. After settling in the UK, he immersed himself in British culture, learning local expressions, picking up regional slang, and completing essential equipment and manual handling training to meet UK standards.
He also trained in delivering personality-profiling tools – an approach he uses to help colleagues understand themselves, communicate better, and bring their best selves to work.
A Philosophy Rooted in Positivity
Communication sits at the heart of Mo’s approach. Back in 2015, long before he came to the UK, he researched and catalogued 7,000 positive words from the Oxford Dictionary. He still taps into this today – using them to support others, create an uplifting environment, and guide his own outlook on life. As he says,
“The moment you remove negativity from the world, the world becomes a much better place.”
He also champions body language and sign language in care – tools he says are essential for connecting with people who struggle to express themselves verbally. Mo has trained in American Sign Language and emphasises that communication is far more than spoken words: it is eye contact, presence, posture, and awareness. “Some people have limited movement or speech,” he explains. “Your body language tells them whether you’re listening, whether you care. Good care starts before you even say anything.”
Compassionate Dementia Care
His dedication to dementia care reflects his deep respect for older people. “They may not remember what happened yesterday,” he says, “but they can tell the most amazing stories from childhood.” Mo regularly visits clients in hospital, goes the extra mile to create meaningful connections, and strongly supports ethical care standards, in particular, his employer’s commitment to a minimum 28-minute time visiting patients, ensuring care is never rushed.
Inspiring Future Generations
Mo’s passion for connection extends far beyond his daily role. He visits schools regularly to talk about working in care and is currently working with colleagues to design a programme to teach young people about compassion, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), communication, and the importance of valuing older generations. He strongly believes that early education is key to restoring standards within the care sector.
Alongside his demanding work, Mo has written 28 books, with his next – Rebuttles of Relationships – on the way. His instinct to help people, his curiosity, and his commitment to lifelong learning underpin everything he does. As he often reminds others, “I’m still learning. There’s always room to grow.”
Mo’s journey is a powerful reminder of the dedication, resilience, and heart that international care workers bring to the UK every day. They enrich our communities, strengthen our care system, and show us that when we invest in connection – across cultures and across generations – we all thrive.
