AN inspirational mother who battled against the odds to become a qualified social worker at 50 has told her story to social services policy makers at a national conference.

Georgie Hamari, from Middlesbrough, 52, told delegates at the conference about her struggle to get work despite her qualification-filled curriculum vitae.

She was speaking at a fringe event of the three-day National Social Services Conference, hosted by national charity Shaw Trust, in Newcastle.

Ms Hamari, who is severely visually impaired and registered deaf, said: "I'm rather hoping one of the delegates will give me a social worker job, but my main aim for speaking out is to support Shaw Trust, without whose help I wouldn't be where I am today."

The trust works with about 40 health authorities and social services departments including Middlesbrough.

Chief operating officer Tim Cooper said: "We are the only provider who can offer a full range of services, from support to achieve open employment, through to vocational and leisure activities for severely disabled individuals."

Middlesbrough Council's director of social services, Jan Douglas, said: "It is very much in line with our modernisation agenda - shifting away from thinking we have to provide old traditional-style day care services, as opposed to maximising people's potential.

"This approach also underpins our concept of social inclusion and the promotion of independence and reducing dependence on services, thereby freeing up places.

"When we bring in an organisation like Shaw Trust, it really does make our task much easier, because we can rely on their expertise and experience."