McAuliffe, D., & Greenslade, L. (2025).
Ethics and Social Welfare, 1–13.
Abstract
Ethical decision making is a critical skill for practitioners of all disciplines in the social, health and human services. Having capacity to engage proactively with decisions that will impact people’s lives in a way that is rigorous, principled, and considered, is the hallmark of an ethically competent practitioner. There have been multiple models of ethical decision making that have provided structured examples of the questions that should be asked of self and others while navigating an ethical dilemma. The Inclusive Model of ethical decision-making was first published by McAuliffe & Chenoweth in this journal in 2008. In reviewing the Inclusive model some 15 years since its original development, it is timely to reconsider the value of incorporating a 5th ethical platform, conceptualised as Interdependence, to draw on the importance of the relationships between humans, non-humans, and the natural world. This paper provides an extension of previous work to bring the Inclusive model of ethical decision making to a better coherence with current developments in both theory and practice.
Here are some thoughts:
This article presents an updated, practical ethical decision-making model that explicitly incorporates "Interdependence," urging practitioners to consider the impact of their decisions on relationships, non-human animals, and the environment—areas increasingly relevant to holistic client care. The model’s structured, five-step process (defining the dilemma, mapping legitimacy, gathering information, considering alternatives, and critical evaluation) provides a clear, systematic framework for navigating complex real-world dilemmas, which is invaluable in clinical practice. Furthermore, its emphasis on consultation, cultural sensitivity, and critical reflection aligns with core psychological competencies, making it a versatile tool for individual practitioners and interdisciplinary teams.
