It's not every day you get the chance to help reshape the Indian
government's health policy.
But that's exactly what's been afforded us here at Social Care Alba -
thanks to one of our new members of staff, Vikash Kumar, Professional Advisor in Research.
The qualified social worker is currently studying for a PhD in
International Health at Queen Margaret University College here in Edinburgh and
his research will be reported back to the team at India's Health Policy Unit.
Vikash has already completed previous research for the Department of Health in
India where he looked in maternity and new born care. He's currently a
recipient of a Scottish Government Saltire scholarship.
His current area of study is integrated care and his work with us gives
him an insight into the type of home-based care available here in the UK.
"The provision of care here is very different to that back home in
India," he said. "The shift from hospital to home based means there
are more people involved in an individual's care. A person with diabetes, for
instance, could have a nurse, social worker and doctor caring for them. They
have their own team whereas in hospital such a network simply wouldn't exist.
"In India there is very little home-based care with most
individuals being cared for by family and relatives such as aunts and cousins.
Often the hospital care is either too expensive or too far away for a person to
travel to. And even if they do get hospital treatment India is still
under-resourced when it comes to nurses, physios, occuational therapists and
other health care practitioners. We need the kind of care at home provision in
India that I see here on a daily basis in the UK."
Vikash, 30, says he's enjoying his time working as a Professional Advisor in Research as part
of the Social Care Alba team in Tollcross and Prestonfield where the majority
of his clients are elderly and need dementia care.
"The staff are great and so are the clients," he said. "I
was delighted to be offered the job. I'm already fairly well known to some of
my clients."
Director of Social Care Alba Stephen Wilson said: “It’s terrific to have
someone with Vikash’s experience on the team. We hope he enjoys his time with
us and takes away information that will help improve care at home back in
India.”
Meanwhile, Vikash's clients will be reassured to know that he’s not
leaving for India for some time yet. He intends to stay here until at least
2017 when his PhD is due to be completed and he'll be known as Dr Kumar.
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