5E Use clear, accurate and objective language when documenting events

In the community services environment written accounts of events are important legal documents. These accounts may be called upon as evidence in court proceedings if an adverse event has taken place and a worker needs to prove that they have followed reasonable care and not breached their legislative duties.

The language of these documents must capture the important details of the event in a way that is factual and free from emotions. It is therefore important that the records of the observations or events are clear, accurate and describe the event in objective language that is free from bias, exaggeration or understatement.