rbt E.1 Communicating Concerns

By RBThub February 23, 2026

As an RBT, you are the eyes and ears of the case. Your Supervisor is not there every day; you are.

If you see abuse and say nothing, you are liable. If a parent changes medication and you don't report it, the data is ruined. This lesson teaches you When to speak up and How to say it professionally (Objective vs. Subjective).

Executive Summary

This video serves as a guide for Professional Communication. It categorizes incidents into "Immediate" (Abuse, Injury) vs. "Timely" (Medication changes, Illness). It also emphasizes using Objective Language (facts only) instead of subjective opinions ("He was bad today").

⏱️ Video Timeline

02:44
Immediate Reporting
Client injury, suspected abuse/neglect, or use of emergency procedures (restraint). Call immediately once safe.
04:04
Timely Reporting (24 Hours)
Medication changes, illness, parent requests, or data errors. These impact the program but aren't life-threatening.
09:51
Objective vs. Subjective
Bad: "He was naughty." (Opinion).
Good: "He hit the table 3 times." (Fact).
12:21
Documentation
Always create a paper trail. If you call your supervisor, follow up with an email summary. "If it isn't written down, it didn't happen."

🔑 Key Insights

Mandated Reporter: You are legally required to report suspected abuse/neglect immediately. You cannot "wait and see."
Objective Language: Stick to what you saw and heard. Avoid emotional words like "angry," "sad," or "lazy."
Variables: Report ecological variables (illness, lack of sleep, new pet) because they affect the data.
Dual Relationships: If a parent asks you to babysit or go to dinner, report it. You must maintain professional boundaries.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: A parent changed the child's medication but said "it's fine." Do I report it?
A: Yes. Medication changes can drastically alter behavior. Your Supervisor needs to know to interpret the data correctly.
Q: I made a mistake on the data sheet. Should I hide it?
A: Never. Report it immediately. Data integrity is everything. A mistake is fixable; falsifying data is fraud.

1. The Communication Triage (When to Call)

Memorize this list. It tells you exactly how fast you need to act.
🚨 IMMEDIATE (Call Now) • Abuse / Neglect • Injury / Crisis ⚠️ URGENT (24 Hours) • Medication Change • New Behavior Spike 📝 ROUTINE (Session Notes) • Illness (Cold) • Low Motivation

2. Objective vs. Subjective

Subjective (Opinion):
"He was angry."
"She was lazy."
"He had a bad day."
Objective (Fact):
"He yelled loud enough to be heard outside."
"She put her head on the desk for 10 minutes."
"He engaged in 5 instances of aggression."
Rule of Thumb

The "Stranger Test": If a stranger read your note, would they see exactly what you saw? "Angry" looks different to everyone. "Throwing a chair" looks the same to everyone.

📝 Knowledge Check

Communication Skills Check.

Q1: You notice a bruise on the client's arm that looks like a handprint. What do you do?

Answer: Immediate Report (Abuse).
Follow your agency's mandated reporting protocol immediately.

Q2: Which sentence is appropriate for a session note?

Answer: "Client cried for 5 minutes."
This is objective and measurable. Avoid "Client was sad."
▶

Ethics Quiz

Mock Exam

Test your knowledge on Reporting and Professional Communication.

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