Meet a Focus Member’s Parent Sue and focus member abbe kubel

Sue Kubel has 2 children supported by Focus.

What’s the best thing about Focus as a parent?

The best thing is knowing that I can trust the support staff and have a good ongoing relationship with them.  The office staff and Senior Management Team understand both where I'm coming from as a concerned parent (maybe that should be a ‘momma bear 'in my case), and also understand both my children are very different despite having the same diagnosis.   Focus is not just a 'one size fits all' support provider but gives totally individualised support.  I feel completely confident my children are receiving the best support available.

Do you think being supported by Focus has had a positive influence on your child/children? 

Definitely.   The confidence they have both gained over a short period of time is very noticeable.  They are very different in many ways, yet the progress is clear for each of them.

One has faced two very difficult medical challenges, and I honestly don’t believe they would have coped as well without Focus’s support. This same child attended a member’s meeting for the first time—something extraordinary given their fear of unfamiliar places and interacting with strangers. It was a double challenge, and they rose to it. I strongly believe this was possible because of the encouragement from one particular carer, whose support made all the difference.

The other has been receiving help from a support carer with financial matters. In the past, under a different provider, they only trusted one person to handle this. With Focus, their new support carer has quickly earned that same trust—something I never thought possible. To me, this is truly a “wow” moment. That support worker has managed to ease one of my child’s greatest anxieties: trusting someone else with financial issues. 

Do you have a positive relationship with your child/children’s support staff? 

I believe I do and hope the support staff feel the same way.  All of the staff currently supporting my children are kind, caring and friendly – not only towards my children but also towards me.

Do you have any advice for anybody with a child in supported living?

1. Work with your child's support team and be honest and listen to them.  The staff are there to not just support your children, but their care and commitment also in turn supports us as parents too. 
   

2. Treat the staff with respect and understanding; their job isn’t easy and can inevitably be very stressful; plus, they can work very long hours.
   

3. Finally, remember when your child complains about a staff member, there are always two sides to a story, so don’t go into a disagreement all guns firing.  Check your facts first and allow for misunderstandings; there is more often than not, some misunderstanding at the bottom of every situation.

ABBE KUBEL SAYS: How long have you been with The Focus Foundation? Do you like it?

I started with Focus around 3 months ago.  Yes, so far I am really enjoying it and have made very good relationships with all my support staff.

Who’s important to you? 

My mum and dad are very important to me. As are my 3 sisters, the rest of my family and my friends.

What are your hobbies? 

I enjoy cooking, reading and walking in the countryside with family and friends. 

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?

I would love to go to Australia.