ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the complexity of the decision-making arena and provides a theoretical framework to guide practice-related thinking in situations that are highly emotive and challenging for children, families and communities. These situations generally result from accusations of harm or risk to children within their families, where the potential consequences are significant. The DECIDE model explicitly acknowledges the space and assists in addressing the emotional elements present as rational. Balancing different principles such as managing complex relationships, respecting people's rights and assessing the risks involved, the need to anticipate longer term outcomes for children, their families and communities is a component of the framework. Conceptualising ethical decision making in child protection and family welfare within a framework that pays attention to context and outcome offers an important opportunity to provide a balance to dominant rule-based deontological models. Thus, the virtue-based prudential ethics enables principles of respect, justice and beneficence to be incorporated in the decision-making process.
