Utilize the four assumptions of Kitchener’s model of ethical decision-making and, following a National Organization of Human Services (NOHS) ethical principle, arrive at a rationale for paying or not paying for an outfit for the client.

Imagine you are a human service professional bound by general ethical principles, but also by the agency policies of your employer. Your agency only provides career assistance; all other assistance is a referral to other resources. The client is in a situation where they cannot afford clothes for interviews, and your agency provides no monetary assistance. Other options have been exhausted, and you are contemplating paying for an outfit yourself because this client is sincerely trying to become self-sufficient.
Utilize the four assumptions of Kitchener’s model of ethical decision-making and, following a National Organization of Human Services (NOHS) ethical principle, arrive at a rationale for paying or not paying for an outfit for the client.
ANSWER
**Kitchener’s Four Assumptions of Ethical Decision-Making**
1. **Ethical problems are context-dependent:** There is no one-size-fits-all solution to ethical dilemmas. The best solution will vary depending on the specific context of the situation.
2. **Ethical problems are complex:** Ethical dilemmas often involve multiple factors, and there may be no easy answers. It is important to consider all of the relevant factors before making a decision.
3. **Ethical problems require value judgments:** Ethical decisions always involve making choices about what is right and wrong. There are no objective answers to ethical questions.
4. **Ethical problems require moral agents:** Ethical decision-making is a process that is undertaken by individuals who are capable of making moral judgments.
**NOHS Ethical Principle**
**Beneficence:** Human service professionals should strive to maximize the benefits to their clients and minimize any potential harm.
**Rationale for Paying for an Outfit for the Client**
**Applying Kitchener’s Four Assumptions of Ethical Decision-Making**
* **Ethical problems are context-dependent:** The client in this case is in a situation where they cannot afford clothes for interviews, and their agency provides no monetary assistance. This is a specific context that needs to be considered when making a decision about whether or not to pay for an outfit for the client.
* **Ethical problems are complex:** There are multiple factors to consider in this situation, including the client’s need for clothes for interviews, the agency’s policy of not providing monetary assistance, and the human service professional’s own personal values and beliefs.
* **Ethical problems require value judgments:** Ultimately, the human service professional will need to make a value judgment about whether or not paying for an outfit for the client is the right thing to do.
* **Ethical problems require moral agents:** The human service professional in this case is a moral agent who is capable of making ethical decisions.
**Applying the NOHS Ethical Principle of Beneficence**
The NOHS ethical principle of beneficence states that human service professionals should strive to maximize the benefits to their clients and minimize any potential harm. In this case, paying for an outfit for the client would be a benefit to the client, as it would allow them to attend job interviews and potentially obtain a job. There is minimal potential harm associated with paying for an outfit for the client, especially if the human service professional is able to afford to do so.
**Conclusion**
Based on Kitchener’s Four Assumptions of Ethical Decision-Making and the NOHS ethical principle of beneficence, I believe that it is ethically permissible for the human service professional to pay for an outfit for the client. However, it is important for the human service professional to carefully consider all of the relevant factors and to make a decision that is consistent with their own personal values and beliefs.
**Additional Considerations**
The human service professional should also consider the following factors before making a decision:
* **The client’s attitude and motivation:** Is the client sincerely trying to become self-sufficient? Are they willing to put in the effort to find a job?
* **The human service professional’s financial situation:** Can the human service professional afford to pay for an outfit for the client?
* **The impact on other clients:** If the human service professional pays for an outfit for one client, may other clients expect the same?
If the human service professional decides to pay for an outfit for the client, it is important to do so in a way that is respectful and confidential. The human service professional should not make the client feel indebted to them.