A MIDDLESBROUGH healthcare assistant has won a national award in recognition of the way she turned her life around.

Teresa Osbourne, 33, is the 2004 joint winner of the National Health Service University Learning Works Award.

She will receive the accolade at a ceremony in Canary Wharf, London, on May 20.

The award is for the most outstanding adult learner working or volunteering in the health and social care sector and is chosen from almost 1,000 entries.

After speaking to a Lone Parent Advisor, following several years on Income Support, single mother Ms Osbourne, enrolled on an NVQ in care.

Despite very low confidence she rose to the challenge of doing a 30-hour placement, as well as studying and working part-time in the evenings.

"It was a major challenge but the end result made it worthwhile," said Ms Osbourne. "My confidence was not great and I was worried that I wouldn't be able to do the work.

"But as the weeks went by and I gained new skills, I got more and more confident.

"I'm now proud to be a full-time healthcare assistant at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, and am looking forward to taking my training to the next level."

* For free, confidential and impartial advice on ways to learn and achieve the qualifications needed to work in, or progress a career in, the health and social care sector, call NHSU's independent advice and guidance service on 0800 015 0850.