Facilities

Services Offered

Who Can Refer

Referral Process

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Designated Place

Albyn House was the first Designated Place in Scotland and was opened in 1983. 

• It is for persons deemed to be drunk and incapable and is an alternative to being arrested and spending the night in the police cells.

• It ensures the safety and well-being of people under the influence of alcohol.

We place emphasis on creating a safe and supportive environment within the Designated Place and offer higher levels of social inclusion.  It operates a strict confidentiality policy which respects clients' rights to privacy.

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Cathy Jamieson MSP opening developed Designated Place
in 2004

In 2004, there was an investment of £250,000 and now offers:

• 4 individual rooms, each with bed, wash-hand basin.

• toilet facilities.

• disabled access. 

• improved safety via a computerised Cell Occupancy Monitoring System which acts as a back-up to the physical checks in place.

• discrete referral process within our own grounds as against a busy street.

Bed Unit in Designated Place

• 24 hour cover with at least 2 staff on duty at any time.

• clients are checked at regular intervals to ensure their safety.

• provides a 'sobering up' facility and also gives clients the opportunity to discuss their alcohol problem and options available to them. 

• all new referrals receive a follow-up letter inviting them to get in contact should they require further support and also details the other alcohol services available in the area.

• for some clients, being in the Designated Place is a wake-up call to them and they can then decide if they require support with their problems.  It is possible for a client to then move to the hostel if deemed appropriate.

Discrete entrance to new Designated Place and Office Suite

Referrals come primarily from the police and clients will have been charged with being Drunk and Incapable.  It offers an alternative to the police cells and a court appearance.

Other referrals can be made by:

• Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Social Work Departments

• Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Criminal Justice Services

• Aberdeen Cyrenians Summer Street Project

• It is also used as a sobering up facility for hostel residents who have relapsed.  Once sober, they will discuss the relapse with the Duty Manager and a decision will be taken on their stay.

• Clients are searched and their belongings logged.  They receive all belongings back when they leave.

• All clients are breathalysed to gauge their level of intoxication.

• A risk assessment is completed for each client. To ensure their safety and well-being throughout their stay, they are physically checked on every 10 minutes for the first hour and then every 30 minutes thereafter. There is also a computerised Cell Occupancy Monitoring System which acts as a back-up to the physical checks in place.

Albyn House has no powers to hold any clients in the Designated Place.  Once a client is sober, they are free to leave.