Have you ever been employed in multiple social work jobs at the same time? Do you know of others who have?
Following the recent court case of Beatrice Eduah, an agency social worker found to have been fraudulently working for three local authorities simultaneously, we are looking to hear from practitioners about similar experiences.
Between June and November 2023, when Eduah was employed full-time, in adults' services, by Suffolk County Council, she was simultaneously employed full-time, for a three-week period, by two other authorities, without informing the employers, found Suffolk's counter fraud service.
This week, she pleaded guilty at Cambridge Crown Court to fraud by abuse of position with the intention of making a gain, and was ordered to obtain work and set aside money to repay Suffolk £17,668.53 (source: BBC). She will be sentenced in February 2026.
In light of the news, we want to explore how widespread this issue is in social work, and the pressures or circumstances that can drive practitioners to take on multiple jobs, whether openly or not.
If you would be willing to share your story, please get in touch. Due to the sensitivity of the subject, anonymity is guaranteed.
If you are interested, email our community journalist, Anastasia Koutsounia, at anastasia.koutsounia@markallengroup.com
