Obair Associates

Feb 23rd, 2018

Jan 11th, 2018

I am going through a divorce and my husband hired Robin of Obair Associates to give me a vocational evaluation as he is willing to pay for any re-training I may need to re-enter the workforce. At no time was I asked what my interests were or what capabilities or limitations I had. I was asked about past work experience. I told Robin that I had recently registered my own company, producing organic skin care products, although I am not yet trading due to lack of funds required to certify my products to trade within the EU. So, in Robin's professional opinion, I can work when my now 14 year old ASD son leaves school at 16-18, for 15+ hours as a waitress, childminder or telephonist. So, I'm supposed to pay someone 15 per hour upwards to care for my ASD child while I work for 7.50 per hour. I was a waitress in my teens, I'm now 42. Robin asked me for a coffee with two sugars, I gave him a coffee with milk, so that's his insight into me being a good candidate for waitressing. I was a Nanny in my late teens and early 20s but due to an incredibly strong urge to pull my ovaries out through my nasal cavity, I had to find alternate employment that didn't involve other people's spoiled, entitled little cherubs. I then became a receptionist at a small law firm who entrusted me with paralegal responsibilities. I loved this job and only quit because my husband got a job in another state. I assume this is where Robin got the idea I could work as a telephonist. Fair enough. If Robin thought about the 42 year old mother that I am and not the teenager/young adult I once was, he might have come up with a vocation I could actually work at and enjoy. I've spent the last 15 years looking after children, one ASD child. I've had to cook, clean drive kids to school, swimming, OT, ST, ABA, dance classes, dental appointments, doctor appointments, parties, play dates. I've had to do ST, OT and ABA with my ASD child and try to spend quality time with my typical child so that she didn't feel neglected. I've run on three hours sleep a night for years and I've never missed a bath time, a dinner time or neglected to send my kids to school in clean clothes. I've had to learn to live on a fraction of the income I had and not let my kids notice. I've gone from being a homeowner with no mortgage to living in a rental. A rental from which I could not childmind. Also, the care inspectorate are known to revoke the licence of ASD parents with grown kids living at home. So, that's why the one *. Robin didn't take the time to see that maybe I'd be better suited as a therapist, a carer, a housekeeper, even a cleaner. I told him about my business and that it was my best bet for being able to work full time and keep my ASD child by my side without having to rely on strangers to care for him. He said he had no interest in my business. He was here to see if I was a viable candidate for returning to work. He stated to me that I was not. He said I had been out of work for too long and that I was too old and would be overlooked for younger candidates. In the report he provided my husband he said that he searched my name on the internet and discovered I am a company director! I told him this myself! My kids are at school from 08.30 til 15.40 Monday to Thursday and 08.30 til 12.30 on a Friday. He never suggested work I could do during term times, in fact he said I'm unsuited to employment until my son leaves school, a child who will always need 24 hour care! It is my understanding that Robin works alongside speech and occupational therapists. At any time he could have consulted them to see if they had any experience with ASD. Instead he ignored what I said about my child needing 24 hour care, for the rest of his life and determined from his own education and experience that my son could be left alone? for the 15+ hours that I could work outside the home when he leaves school. Save your 1,800.00! My high school guidance teacher did better vocational assessments.
Feb 1st, 2018