Provide dependent children of Social and Healthcare workers visas to enable them to join their mothers in the UK.

Children of health and social care workers, some as young as four years old, have been left in the care of elderly relatives, friends, neighbours, or paid carers while their mothers work in the UK. Many of these children have been separated from their mothers for more than three years. Some have turned 18 during lengthy application processes and are now no longer eligible to join their mothers under the relevant immigration routes.

This prolonged separation is having a significant impact on the wellbeing of both the children and their mothers. Many families believe that current decision-making does not give sufficient weight to the children's best interests or to the importance of maintaining family unity.

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The families affected are predominantly those of single Black African mothers, the majority from Zimbabwe, with others from Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Guyana. These women came to the UK to work in the NHS and social care sectors, often during times of critical workforce shortages, yet many continue to face repeated refusals when applying for their children to join them.

Since this campaign began in 2023, more than 200 mothers working in health and social care have reported visa refusals for their dependent children. Many refusals have been based on findings that there are "no compelling reasons" to grant entry or that the mothers have not demonstrated "sole responsibility" for their children, despite providing extensive supporting evidence.

The application of the sole responsibility requirement lacks transparency and has caused significant distress to families who may have already submitted multiple applications and appeals.

We call on the Home Office to:

Review the guidance and decision-making framework relating to sole responsibility.
Conduct an immediate and fair review of cases involving affected families.
Provide a mechanism for reconsideration of cases where applications have been repeatedly refused.
Introduce a compassionate policy solution for young people who turned 18 while waiting for a decision on an application submitted when they were still children.

Reports of neglect, exploitation, and abuse involving some of the children left behind, particularly girls, underline the urgency of family reunification. Many mothers are experiencing profound emotional distress as a result of prolonged separation from their children.

These cases should give proper weight to the best interests of the child and be assessed in light of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to respect for private and family life. Decisions that result in long-term separation of children from their primary caregiver should be subject to careful and compassionate consideration.

We urgently request a joint meeting with the Prime Minister, the relevant Minister, senior Home Office officials, and representatives from the Department of Health and Social Care. Home Office representation should include the Family Policy Unit and UK Visas and Immigration Operations teams to discuss practical solutions for affected families.