The support we were able to offer was fantastic, enthuses Croner. Both parents had mental health needs but were scared to approach social services because of previous problems. After they left I spoke to the mother who said how marvellous it was to have been treated nicely. She also mentioned how her kids had had such a good time. Although Croner believes Dial House is meeting a need, she recognises Dial House can not cater for the most seriously ill.
People have to be able to stay responsible for themselves.
They can not hand themselves over to us to shield them from the real world. However this does not mean people can not come here being very distressed, perhaps hearing voices, or are at risk from self-harm. Nevertheless, workers at Dial House insist they will never initiate a sectioning of one of their guests. If it ever came to the situation that we felt someone was dangerous and we wanted them to leave then we would tell them if they did not leave the police would be called. However when people come here and see how nice the place is, and how welcome they are, there should not be the need to get angry with us, says Croner.