Lee Mair - CEO
My name is Lee Mair and my position within Focus is that of Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
My previous experience as a social worker before coming to work in Focus was as a child protection social worker and a forensic social worker within secure mental health hospitals. I came to Focus as an Advanced Practitioner within the short term team and have developed my career with the support of Focus to my present post.
I came to Focus as I really enjoyed the concept and potential innovation that Focus could offer me as a practitioner and the flexibility that it offered the people I worked with. The people with lived experience, carers and the many varied support structures that exist within our county such as the VCSE.
I am very proud of Focus and see much of my role as being its ambassador sharing our experience with the wider world. I also want to support the lives of the people of North East Lincolnshire in the way that the people want to be supported which is why it is so important for me to attend our board as it enables me to hear the voices of the people of North East Lincolnshire and that of our workforce who ably hold me to account for the services that we provide.
Alison Midgley - Carers Governor
Having been a carer for both of my parents I have now taken on the carers representative role on the Focus board of governors. I previously worked as a Trainer at Care Plus group, but retired from that role.
I now carry out a volunteer role within the “Living with and beyond Cancer” Team and also work part-time for Lincs Inspire.
Deborah Harding - Leadership Governor
I qualified as a social worker in 2007 and started working for the Local Authority in the Physical Disability & Sensory Impairment Team. After a few years I moved to work in the community learning disability team. Many restructures and office moves later I spent the majority of my practice supporting people with disabilities. I was seconded to the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and played a key role in the market reshaping project. This involved assessing everyone placed out of area, supporting them to return back to North East Lincolnshire (NEL) where possible and creating a supported living market in NEL.
I returned to case management as Focus was created and moved into a role as an Advanced Practitioner (AP) in the short term team. I left the organisation for a couple of years to take up a role as an inspector for the Care Quality Commission (CQC). On returning to Focus I took up my previous role as an AP. I remained there until I was appointed as Head of Case Management, Performance & Finance. I have been in this role of Head of Service (Practice) now for almost 3 years.
I put myself forward as the leadership member of the board to learn more about the board’s functions, along with obtaining a greater understanding of the discussions and decisions that are considered and made at board level.
Christine Forman - Community Governor
Born and bred in Grimsby it has been a privilege to work both in and with the whole community for many many years, both professionally and as a volunteer.
In particular, working voluntarily with Focus since its inception in 2013 has enabled me to support both the organisation and the community it serves.
It is very rewarding to witness how Focus has developed and I very much value being part of it.
I sincerely hope I can contribute further and witness it going from strength to strength.
Chelsea Higgins - Employee Governor
I am currently in my seventh year as a qualified social worker. My experience is predominantly within long term case management where I worked for around six years. More recently I moved to the triage function which has brought many of its own challenges. I am passionate about Social Work, individuals of North East Lincolnshire and Focus as an organisation. This passion is what drew me to wanting to be on the board. It is important for me to be an active part of positive development organisationally which ultimately improves outcomes for individuals who access Adult Social Care. Being on the board enables me to be a part of this.
Katherine Eddington - Employee Governor
I have worked for Focus for 12 years. I spent ten years working as a social worker within the long term team before changing roles. I am now an Advanced Practitioner for Education, a role I love as it is all about supporting the development of others and promoting good practice within Focus generally.
I have been on the board at Focus since August 2022. I chose to put myself forward to sit on the board because at that time there had been some changes happening within Focus, and I felt like it was the right time to be a part of making positive changes for staff in an organisation I am proud to work for. I enjoy being on the board and feel that I am using my voice to represent the ideas and thoughts of the staff group at Focus.
Stewart Slight - Client Governor
I am a Board Member at Focus and I represent Service Users on the Board.
I’ve been on the board for seven years.
My background is Mental Health, Physical Disabilities and Autism.
I have a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care.
Samantha Osbourne - Employee Governor
I’m the Payments and Collections officer in the Focus Finance Team.
I’m not a native Grimbarian, I was born in England to Welsh parents and grew up in the South Pacific on a small island called the Solomon Islands before my parents moved back to the Vale of Glamorgan. I moved to Grimsby in November 1997, aged 23.
Since living in Grimsby, I’ve worked as an International Directories Operator for B.T and, after having my daughter in 2000, I then worked in the Cash Office at Morrisons.
It was in 2005 that I joined the Finance Team when we were still part of North East Lincolnshire Council, and here I am 19 years later a proud board member for Focus C.I.C. I’m passionate about our service, and what we do to help each and every member of our community.
