Assessor Resource

SIFEMWK018
Supervise mortuary operations

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to oversee mortuary operations and ensure that the mortuary environment remains hygienic and secure. It applies to supervisory funeral home and mortuary staff who monitor the implementation of mortuary body preparation procedures, ensuring that all work is carried out 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. Apply procedural knowledge to the operation of a mortuary.

1.1 Become familiar with duties and responsibilities of mortuary staff.

1.2 Identify mortuary procedures and body preparation procedures, including identification checks.

1.3 Recognise social, religious and cultural requirements for handling, preparing and embalming deceased persons.

1.4 Establish mortuary work health and safety procedures and infection control practices.

1.5 Communicate mortuary procedures and practices to staff as appropriate.

2. Oversee mortuary scheduling and operations.

2.1 Supervise mortuary schedules and assist staff to resolve scheduling difficulties and contingencies.

2.2 Monitor application of mortuary procedures and address inconsistencies.

2.3 Administer application of body preparation procedures and address inconsistencies.

2.4 Communicate recommended changes to practices and procedures to appropriate personnel.

Evidence of the ability to:

identify roles of mortuary personnel and relevant mortuary and body preparation procedures and practices and communicate this information to staff

monitor staff application of relevant procedures and identification and correction of inconsistencies on an ongoing basis.

Evidence of performance of supervising mortuary operations for two or more different cases is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.

Demonstrated knowledge of:

responsibilities of mortuary personnel, including:

transfer workers

embalmer

embalmer’s assistant

mortuary technician

other mortuary staff

workplace policies and procedures for supervising mortuary operations, including:

mortuary access

receiving and releasing deceased persons, ensuring identification checks take place

body preparation:

use and maintenance of personal protective equipment

use and maintenance of instruments and equipment

infection control practices

effective communication strategies for:

informing staff of policies and procedures

monitoring work schedules and dealing with incomplete or incorrect practices

assisting staff to resolve mortuary operation contingences, including staff availability and power failures

recommending changes to practices to appropriate personnel

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

environmental impacts regarding mortuary operations and minimal impact practices to reduce these

funeral services industry parameters and protocols for dealing with the deceased, including respect for social, religious and cultural differences and traditions.

Skills must be demonstrated in a mortuary workplace:

using suitable equipment and resources, including:

mortuary schedules

mortuary equipment

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. Apply procedural knowledge to the operation of a mortuary.

1.1 Become familiar with duties and responsibilities of mortuary staff.

1.2 Identify mortuary procedures and body preparation procedures, including identification checks.

1.3 Recognise social, religious and cultural requirements for handling, preparing and embalming deceased persons.

1.4 Establish mortuary work health and safety procedures and infection control practices.

1.5 Communicate mortuary procedures and practices to staff as appropriate.

2. Oversee mortuary scheduling and operations.

2.1 Supervise mortuary schedules and assist staff to resolve scheduling difficulties and contingencies.

2.2 Monitor application of mortuary procedures and address inconsistencies.

2.3 Administer application of body preparation procedures and address inconsistencies.

2.4 Communicate recommended changes to practices and procedures to appropriate personnel.

Evidence of the ability to:

identify roles of mortuary personnel and relevant mortuary and body preparation procedures and practices and communicate this information to staff

monitor staff application of relevant procedures and identification and correction of inconsistencies on an ongoing basis.

Evidence of performance of supervising mortuary operations for two or more different cases is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.

Demonstrated knowledge of:

responsibilities of mortuary personnel, including:

transfer workers

embalmer

embalmer’s assistant

mortuary technician

other mortuary staff

workplace policies and procedures for supervising mortuary operations, including:

mortuary access

receiving and releasing deceased persons, ensuring identification checks take place

body preparation:

use and maintenance of personal protective equipment

use and maintenance of instruments and equipment

infection control practices

effective communication strategies for:

informing staff of policies and procedures

monitoring work schedules and dealing with incomplete or incorrect practices

assisting staff to resolve mortuary operation contingences, including staff availability and power failures

recommending changes to practices to appropriate personnel

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

environmental impacts regarding mortuary operations and minimal impact practices to reduce these

funeral services industry parameters and protocols for dealing with the deceased, including respect for social, religious and cultural differences and traditions.

Skills must be demonstrated in a mortuary workplace:

using suitable equipment and resources, including:

mortuary schedules

mortuary equipment

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
Become familiar with duties and responsibilities of mortuary staff. 
Identify mortuary procedures and body preparation procedures, including identification checks. 
Recognise social, religious and cultural requirements for handling, preparing and embalming deceased persons. 
Establish mortuary work health and safety procedures and infection control practices. 
Communicate mortuary procedures and practices to staff as appropriate. 
Supervise mortuary schedules and assist staff to resolve scheduling difficulties and contingencies. 
Monitor application of mortuary procedures and address inconsistencies. 
Administer application of body preparation procedures and address inconsistencies. 
Communicate recommended changes to practices and procedures to appropriate personnel. 
Become familiar with duties and responsibilities of mortuary staff. 
Identify mortuary procedures and body preparation procedures, including identification checks. 
Recognise social, religious and cultural requirements for handling, preparing and embalming deceased persons. 
Establish mortuary work health and safety procedures and infection control practices. 
Communicate mortuary procedures and practices to staff as appropriate. 
Supervise mortuary schedules and assist staff to resolve scheduling difficulties and contingencies. 
Monitor application of mortuary procedures and address inconsistencies. 
Administer application of body preparation procedures and address inconsistencies. 
Communicate recommended changes to practices and procedures to appropriate personnel. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SIFEMWK018 - Supervise mortuary operations
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Assessment Record Sheet

SIFEMWK018 - Supervise mortuary operations

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

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Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

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