Academy House Services

Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Reliability, Value
Nov 9th, 2022

If there was an option to give zero stars I would. Management at this centre leaves a lot to be desired. Three days after my son leaves school and two weeks before his start date they withdraw the place they offered three months previously. Management didn't properly risk assess, took nearly 4 months, approved sds budget, transition visits, the lot before they came to that conclusion. Parents/carers of adults who attend this centre should be extremely concerned at the way in which this centre operates.
Jul 18th, 2021

Amazing food, and good service
Jul 22nd, 2018

Apr 13th, 2018

The Support Workers in this Centre seem very friendly and caring. The service users seem happy. Although I am concerned to see a young girl who often sits at the service entrance sometimes unsupervised. I fear she may walk out on her own but assume her family are aware of this and it is for her own benefit she is sitting outside in the waiting area alone.Unfortunately the Management of this place is not up to standard. I have been using this service since last year for my son who is non verbal. Initially I was advised the centre runs from 9:30 am to 3:45 pm. When my son started despite him getting a service from 9:30am he was getting picked up nearer the 10am mark sometimes even later. When I complained they told me the buses were leaving at 7:30am and picking up other clients first and by the time they got to my house it was 10am. I reluctantly accepted that even though 2 and a half hours can get you to Edinburgh and back by bus. The bus did not work out so I started dropping him off in a car some days I got there before 9am and I noticed the buses were leaving between 8.40 am- 9am and not 7:30 am like claimed by the management. One morning I was sitting in the car park with my son and a worker approached my car about 9:15am she told me it was ok to bring my son in as the place opened at 9am and he was taken in early. I rarely dropped him off before 9:30am but a couple of weeks ago I went to drop him off at 9:10am. Margaret McGee opened the door and was not happy to see him. She told me my sons start time was at 9:30am and 9 am was for other people who she could not comment on. While in the waiting area I picked up a copy of their price list. I realised my son was not getting the total hours he was getting charged for. I brought it to the attention of Margaret McGee a meeting was arranged with the Social Workers present. Senior Management did not attend the meeting although I was told they would be there. Margaret McGhee could not offer a explanation of why they were offering a different service from what was advertised but admitted some clients were getting a different service but would not explain why. She took my complaint to the Company Director who offered to increase my sons hours by 15 mins per day that is the closest I got to an admittance we were getting ripped off. Despite this an increase of 15 mins still resulted in us paying more for less hours. My son also has been getting charged 2 to 1 for 8 hours a week where he was supposed to be taken out in the community but I had no evidence this was happening over the last 5 months I have asked the management to put up Facebook pictures proving he was taken out in the community I was lucky to get 1 picture up a month. Certain clients have regular pictures put up. They are taken to the park, museums, to see Santa and to shopping centres etc. But despite asking many times my sons pictures rarely appeared on this page. I had another issue with a staff member and I put a complaint in to Amer the Company Director but it was not dealt with until a review went up. The complaint got sorted out in return for me removing the review. Dont be fooled by all the positive reviews the management work on getting the negative ones taken down. My son has Autism, behavioural problems and is non verbal and I can only assume this is the reason for the discrimination he is suffering as no other explanation has been offered. If your child has similar issues dont send them to this centre they will be discriminated against and you will not be offered a explanation. If your child is in this centre I strongly suggest you ensure that you are receiving the service you are paying for. Please feel free to contact me if you need a copy of their price list. The Management should be ashamed of themselves ripping of vulnerable people and hard working stressed carers. In the words of Ebenezer Scrooge Bah Humbug to the Management of Academy House who put their greed above the vulnerable people in their care. A review up in their Facebook page but it was removed.
Jan 5th, 2019