Assessor Resource

SIFEMWK013
Determine embalming requirements

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to transfer a deceased person to a mortuary room and ascertain the body condition, classify the body and evaluate the effects and treatments for a range of body conditions and problems. It applies to embalming staff who work autonomously with a high level of responsibility and according to work health and safety, relevant legislation and workplace policies and procedures.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Identify the deceased person.

1.1 Confirm identity of deceased on name tag.

1.2 Check and confirm details are accurate against documentation.

2. Prepare mortuary areas and equipment.

2.1 Prepare and use personal protective equipment.

2.2 Prepare mortuary area and appropriate mortuary instruments and equipment.

3. Prepare for a pre-embalming case analysis.

3.1 Transfer the deceased person from mortuary refrigerator to mortuary room.

3.2 Confirm death using appropriate non-invasive observation techniques.

3.3 Advise team members of the extent of the procedure to be performed and associated precautions that may need to be taken.

3.4 Discuss emotional issues likely to be encountered with a particular case.

4. Analyse embalming requirements.

4.1 Identify physical and chemical changes of the body.

4.2 Inspect the body for a range of body conditions using appropriate instruments, apparatus and materials.

4.3 Identify and evaluate effects and treatments required for any identified body conditions.

4.4 Determine appropriate embalming techniques and required solution quantity, strength, pressures and rates of flow, taking into account identified body conditions and effects of different treatments.

Evidence of the ability to:

identify the deceased and confirm details against documentation

analyse the embalming requirements by examination and evaluate the treatments and effects for specified body conditions and problems

calculate fluid dilutions for specific conditions using appropriate formulas

determine the appropriate embalming techniques to be used and communicate these to mortuary staff advising of potential emotional issues.

Evidence of performance of determining embalming requirements of different cases on two or more occasions is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.

Demonstrated knowledge of:

documentation for determining embalming requirements, including:

Medical Certificate or Certificate of Life Extinct

coroner’s warrant

medical report

transfer instructions

waterproof identification tag fixed securely to body

list of personal property, including clothing and shoes for dressing the deceased

receipts for jewellery and other valuables

mortuary occupancy register

embalming form

requirements for preparing the mortuary facility

mortuary equipment, instruments and materials and their associated uses

process for body examination using non-invasive observation techniques, including:

checking for no pulse

looking for fixed and dilated pupils

structures and functions of the systems of the body and the physical and chemical changes following death and their possible impact on the embalming process, including:

body moisture content

vascular problems

delayed embalming

discolouration

exposure to drug therapies

trauma

effects of embalming on various causes of death, medical treatments and procedures

funeral services industry parameters and protocols for dealing with the deceased, including social, cultural and religious considerations

federal, state or territory, and local government legislation and regulations in relevant to work health and safety/occupational health and safety, infection control and handling human remains

workplace policies and procedures in relation to determining embalming requirements.

Skills must be demonstrated in a mortuary workplace:

using suitable equipment and resources, including:

deceased bodies

mortuary instruments and equipment including personal protective equipment and cleansing and disinfecting products

under industry operating conditions where there is:

integration of tasks with possible interruptions to work typical of the job role

speed and timing requirements that reflect commercial operating conditions

interaction with team members

As well as satisfying the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements, assessors must also hold formal qualifications as an embalmer.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Identify the deceased person.

1.1 Confirm identity of deceased on name tag.

1.2 Check and confirm details are accurate against documentation.

2. Prepare mortuary areas and equipment.

2.1 Prepare and use personal protective equipment.

2.2 Prepare mortuary area and appropriate mortuary instruments and equipment.

3. Prepare for a pre-embalming case analysis.

3.1 Transfer the deceased person from mortuary refrigerator to mortuary room.

3.2 Confirm death using appropriate non-invasive observation techniques.

3.3 Advise team members of the extent of the procedure to be performed and associated precautions that may need to be taken.

3.4 Discuss emotional issues likely to be encountered with a particular case.

4. Analyse embalming requirements.

4.1 Identify physical and chemical changes of the body.

4.2 Inspect the body for a range of body conditions using appropriate instruments, apparatus and materials.

4.3 Identify and evaluate effects and treatments required for any identified body conditions.

4.4 Determine appropriate embalming techniques and required solution quantity, strength, pressures and rates of flow, taking into account identified body conditions and effects of different treatments.

Evidence of the ability to:

identify the deceased and confirm details against documentation

analyse the embalming requirements by examination and evaluate the treatments and effects for specified body conditions and problems

calculate fluid dilutions for specific conditions using appropriate formulas

determine the appropriate embalming techniques to be used and communicate these to mortuary staff advising of potential emotional issues.

Evidence of performance of determining embalming requirements of different cases on two or more occasions is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.

Demonstrated knowledge of:

documentation for determining embalming requirements, including:

Medical Certificate or Certificate of Life Extinct

coroner’s warrant

medical report

transfer instructions

waterproof identification tag fixed securely to body

list of personal property, including clothing and shoes for dressing the deceased

receipts for jewellery and other valuables

mortuary occupancy register

embalming form

requirements for preparing the mortuary facility

mortuary equipment, instruments and materials and their associated uses

process for body examination using non-invasive observation techniques, including:

checking for no pulse

looking for fixed and dilated pupils

structures and functions of the systems of the body and the physical and chemical changes following death and their possible impact on the embalming process, including:

body moisture content

vascular problems

delayed embalming

discolouration

exposure to drug therapies

trauma

effects of embalming on various causes of death, medical treatments and procedures

funeral services industry parameters and protocols for dealing with the deceased, including social, cultural and religious considerations

federal, state or territory, and local government legislation and regulations in relevant to work health and safety/occupational health and safety, infection control and handling human remains

workplace policies and procedures in relation to determining embalming requirements.

Skills must be demonstrated in a mortuary workplace:

using suitable equipment and resources, including:

deceased bodies

mortuary instruments and equipment including personal protective equipment and cleansing and disinfecting products

under industry operating conditions where there is:

integration of tasks with possible interruptions to work typical of the job role

speed and timing requirements that reflect commercial operating conditions

interaction with team members

As well as satisfying the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements, assessors must also hold formal qualifications as an embalmer.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Confirm identity of deceased on name tag. 
Check and confirm details are accurate against documentation. 
Prepare and use personal protective equipment. 
Prepare mortuary area and appropriate mortuary instruments and equipment. 
Transfer the deceased person from mortuary refrigerator to mortuary room. 
Confirm death using appropriate non-invasive observation techniques. 
Advise team members of the extent of the procedure to be performed and associated precautions that may need to be taken. 
Discuss emotional issues likely to be encountered with a particular case. 
Identify physical and chemical changes of the body. 
Inspect the body for a range of body conditions using appropriate instruments, apparatus and materials. 
Identify and evaluate effects and treatments required for any identified body conditions. 
Determine appropriate embalming techniques and required solution quantity, strength, pressures and rates of flow, taking into account identified body conditions and effects of different treatments. 
Confirm identity of deceased on name tag. 
Check and confirm details are accurate against documentation. 
Prepare and use personal protective equipment. 
Prepare mortuary area and appropriate mortuary instruments and equipment. 
Transfer the deceased person from mortuary refrigerator to mortuary room. 
Confirm death using appropriate non-invasive observation techniques. 
Advise team members of the extent of the procedure to be performed and associated precautions that may need to be taken. 
Discuss emotional issues likely to be encountered with a particular case. 
Identify physical and chemical changes of the body. 
Inspect the body for a range of body conditions using appropriate instruments, apparatus and materials. 
Identify and evaluate effects and treatments required for any identified body conditions. 
Determine appropriate embalming techniques and required solution quantity, strength, pressures and rates of flow, taking into account identified body conditions and effects of different treatments. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SIFEMWK013 - Determine embalming requirements
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Assessment Record Sheet

SIFEMWK013 - Determine embalming requirements

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Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

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