For over 30 years, my life and career has been dedicated to supporting children and young adults with complex additional needs, including profound autism and challenging behaviours, as well as those requiring residential care. To me, working in the independent care sector has never been just a job — it’s been a calling. I believe every young person deserves to be understood, supported, and given the chance to thrive, and it has always been a privilege to contribute to that mission, no matter how small the role.

In October 2024, my life took an unexpected turn. While serving as Executive Director of East Park in Maryhill, Glasgow — an organisation and team that mean so much to me — I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. The news was life-altering and in the twinkling of an eye my life was going to change radically.

As I began a challenging and intensive journey of life-long treatment, I had to rethink how I could continue doing the work I love in a way that respected my health, my faith, and my lifelong dedication to the care and complex additional support sector.

That’s when O’Brien Consultancy was born.

This new chapter enables me to continue making a meaningful impact by sharing the knowledge, experience, and insights I’ve gained over the past three decades. My mission is to help organisations across Scotland’s independent care and education sector, particularly those supporting individuals with complex additional support needs, to grow stronger, stay resilient, and adapt to an ever-evolving landscape. By focusing on strategic business development, I support Boards and senior leaders in building sustainability, empowering their teams, and ensuring their services remain safe, nurturing environments where children and young people can truly thrive.

This venture is more than just a business to me. It’s about creating a lasting legacy, fostering hope, and proving that even in the face of life’s greatest challenges, we can still make a difference — not just for ourselves, but for others.