Case Study

Abdul's care assistant journey

21 Apr 2025

Abdul’s compassion and desire to help others was the driving force towards his goal in a career in health and social care.

However, 21-year-old Abdul from Bury, had lost confidence and was suffering from anxiety after being unemployed for over a year.

He was referred to the Restart Scheme in Greater Manchester, delivered by Ingeus, where he met his Advisor, Anita.

“I could see the potential in Abdul and knew that any employer, having met him, would offer him a position on the spot”, commented Anita. “My main goal was to convince Abdul what an asset he would be to any employer, within the health and social care setting.”

Seeing his potential, Anita was determined to help him see it too. To help his mental health and wellbeing, Anita referred Abdul to his local NHS Talking Therapies, which provided support and treatment through talking about his challenges with anxiety. 

Faced with little experience and no relevant qualifications to work in health and social care, Anita also introduced him to The Growth Company, one of Ingeus’ training provider partners.  Abdul successfully completed his maths and english assessments to start a Level 2 Health and Social Care qualification. However, Abdul faced a setback when the course was delayed.  

Determined to keep Abdul on track, Anita took a different approach. She began engaging with local employers who could support Abdul in completing his qualification while working. Anita tailored his CV for health and social care roles and referred Abdul to confidence building workshops.

Abdul made fantastic progress, but he remained anxious about interviews. To boost his confidence and self-belief, Abdul began practicing with mock interviews and further developing his industry knowledge about health and social care.

Abdul’s determination soon paid off and he was successful in an interview for a Care Assistant role at a local business, Abbeywood Care Home. Even better, his new employer committed to supporting him complete his Level 2 Health and Social Care qualification, with opportunities to progress to Level 3 as well.

George Durkin, Operations Manager at Abbeywood Care Home said,: “Abdul has been an absolute pleasure to have here. From day one, he’s thrown himself into the role with enthusiasm, kindness, and a real willingness to learn. He’s fitted in seamlessly with both staff and residents, always bringing a smile and a positive attitude to everything he does. The residents adore him, and his warmth and friendliness have made a real difference to their days. He’s a hard worker, always ready to help, and a genuinely great person to be around. We feel incredibly lucky to have him as part of the team!”

Although Abdul experienced some setbacks on his employment journey, he has never given up and has turned his life around in a role he is now thriving in.

Of his Restart Scheme journey, Abdul said: “Thank you so much Anita, you have been more helpful than you know, truly wonderful.”