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Pages:
4 pages/≈1100 words
Sources:
2 Sources
Style:
APA
Subject:
Psychology
Type:
Essay
Language:
English (U.S.)
Document:
MS Word
Date:
Total cost:
$ 17.28
Topic:

Ethical Decision-Making for Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA)

Essay Instructions:

Ethical Decision-Making
For this week’s assignment, you will write an essay that will serve as your statement to your state ethics board regarding the ethical dilemma presented in the case scenario and the approaches you took to resolve the dilemma.
Scenario
You obtained your Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) certification 3 months ago. You went from working as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), as you accumulated your required supervised fieldwork hours, to a position as a BCaBA with the same company. Suddenly, you had more authority to make decisions regarding your clients’ treatment programs, as well as an increased caseload.
Shortly after you took on your new role as a BCaBA, you met with the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) supervising you to discuss expectations regarding your new position. During the meeting, your supervisor said that the company manager has a requirement to bill all clients for a minimum of 10 hours per week of one-on-one therapy. Your supervisor explained that insurance requires all clients to come for at least 10 hours per week. You realized that you could not bill for hours that the client did not receive therapy, and you asked, “What if each client does not come for that many therapy hours?” Your supervisor responded that it is an unwritten company policy. Suddenly, you realize this is an ethically complex situation and face an ethical dilemma. Next, you had to decide how to handle the situation best.
Assignment Directions
Before writing your essay, review the example of the Seven-Step Model Example to Analyzing Complex Ethical Issues.
https://kapextmediassl-a(dot)akamaihd(dot)net/artsSCi/PS225/2104D/SevenStepModelExample.pdf
Then, use the scenario above and the Unit 4 Assignment Template to write a 4- to 5-page essay, not including title and reference pages, addressing the following:
Introduction:
Summarize the ethical dilemma in detail.
Step 1: Is the Incident Covered by the BACB Ethics Code?
Discuss, in detail, the relevant codes in this case based upon the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BACB) Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts. https://www(dot)bacb(dot)com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Ethics-Code-for-Behavior-Analysts-220316-2.pdf
Step 2: The Players
Identify the “players” in this case.
Describe if you have the strength, skill, and motivation to do the right thing.
Step 3: Contingency Plans for Ethics
Explain each of your contingency plans (Plans A, B, and C) to resolve this dilemma in a least-to-greatest approach.
Consider the following: What will you do if the first approach to solving the problem does not work? What will you do if the second approach does not work?
Step 4: The Skills and Clout
Discuss whether you have the skills and the “clout” to carry out each plan.
Consider your position, the level of complexity, and the contingency plans you have created.
Step 5: The Risk
Discuss the risks to each player for not resolving the ethical issue(s) and the risks involved in attempting to resolve the issue(s).
Step 6: The Implementation
With your contingency plans in mind (Plan A, B, and C), describe how you will carry out each of these approaches. Be sure to provide clear details.
Step 7: The Evaluation
Identify the important events that should be documented and discuss detailed ways you will document these events.
Summary:
Explain how you documented each of the seven steps in your approaches to resolving the ethical dilemma, including evidence of your honorable intentions and why this documentation is important.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Ethical Decision-Making
First/Last Name
Purdue University Global
PS225-Section Number - Unit 4 Assignment
Instructor name
Date
Summary
The ethical dilemma arises due to the complexities of the situation that involves clients having to be available for a face to face therapy for billing and insurance to take effect. The idea that it is an unwritten company policy makes the situation more complex. The ethical complexity first arises when I might be forced to compel the clients to attend the sessions for at least 10 hours a week or allow them to attend fewer hours at the expense of the insurance company.
Step 1: Is the Incident Covered by the BACB Ethics Code?
There are four fundamental principles that both Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBA) should abide by, as per the ethics code for behavior analysts. The ethics code requires that the BCaBA operates in a way that benefits others, shows compassion, dignity, and respect to others, demonstrates integrity on their side, and also helps with their competence (Behavior Analyst Certification Board, 2020). The case provided touches on all the core principles when interpreted from varied viewpoints. The requirement that the BCaBA ensures that the client attends at least 10 hours face to a face therapy session in a week demands competence from the professional in that it requires them to work hard to motivate the clients. On the other hand, billing the client only when the 10-hour therapy session per week threshold has been met shows an act of compassion from the BCaBA. It only makes sense to bill a client when a reasonable amount of time has been spent with the therapist.
The billing also denotes that the BCaBA will be acting in the best interest of the client as well as that of the insurance company; thus, the principles of benefiting others have been adequately addressed. The idea of having an unwritten company policy can be treated as a test of integrity on the BCaBA. The policy requires that the BCaBA acts accountably while seeking to accomplish their obligations of having the clients meet the required time threshold, even though it is not stipulated in the written company policy. Thus, the case scenario portrays a keen interest in the different principles of ethics required of behavior analysts.
Step 2: The Players
The complexities of the case are crucial and touch on several actors other than the client. The BCaBA is the most involved player in this case because they are the contact person with the client. The company, represented by the manager, is the other player that must be involved and will be affected by the decision made by the BCaBA. The insurance company will be involved, especially in the decisions on billing and the client's attendance for face-to-face therapy sessions. Finally, the Behaviour Analyst Certification Board (BACB) comes in as a player when the morality of the behavior analyst has become of concern.
The competence of a BCaBA requires that they handle complex situations that may involve multiple players and may evoke some questions on ethics. Having met the RBT qualifications and having practiced for a long time, I am confident that I have acquired the necessary skills to handle such situations where ethical dilem...
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