An ex-teacher was treated to thunderous applause in a council meeting after she shared her experience of being a foster carer.

Joeanne was previously a teacher in a Corsham primary school but, after witnessing two pupils go into care, she decided to take the necessary steps in becoming a foster carer.

She spoke at Wiltshire Council’s full council meeting on Wednesday, July 24, as part of the corporate parenting panel’s annual update.

Joeanne said: “It’s about loving and accepting them because they grow in confidence, and I can see clearly over the last four years, they know themselves, they know they’re accepted, their emotions are more balanced, and they are happy.”

Joeanne was thanked by the council for her work.Joeanne was thanked by the council for her work. (Image: Wiltshire Council)

She noted that there were also certain challenges to fostering, such as coping with children’s trauma and struggles with social worker retention.

She added: “Overall, my experience has been very positive and the support that has been available to get over those hurdles when they’ve happened has been fabulous.

“I personally would highly recommend it to anyone, and I would do it all over again, because not only have I made a difference to those children, they’ve also made a difference to me, and I couldn’t imagine my life without them.”

Leader of the council, Richard Clewer, and Wiltshire Council’s Lib Dem leader, Ian Thorn, both described the emotional speech as “uplifting”.

Cllr Clewer said: “It’s important to note that we have got to continue to look to do everything we can to further help this group of people.”

Cllr Jon Hubbard, chairman of the children’s select committee, brought up job opportunities for care leavers within the local authority.

He said: “If you are care experienced, and if you meet the essential criteria for a position, then you will be guaranteed an interview.

“That’s amazing, that’s really good.”

However, he noted that of the 587 care leavers who applied to positions in the year ending March 2024, only 23 were appointed, representing approximately a 4 per cent chance of obtaining the position.

He concluded: “We are corporate parents. If this was a family firm and one of the family children was applying for a job within the family firm, would they stand a four per cent chance of getting that job?”