Assessor Resource

SIFFFNL001
Assist with the conduct of funerals

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to assist a funeral director to conduct funerals, including bearing coffins or caskets. It applies to funeral home assistant staff who carry out their work under supervision as part of a team 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. Prepare to assist with a funeral.

1.1 Liaise with appropriate personnel to identify work requirements.

1.2 Identify and obtain required resources and equipment and check for serviceability.

1.3 Consult with team members as required to establish sequence of tasks and team member responsibilities.

1.4 Liaise with appropriate personnel to identify coffin or casket bearing requirements.

2. Provide assistance to funeral directors.

2.1 Accompany coffin or casket to burial locations.

2.2 Assist with conduct of funeral processions as instructed by appropriate personnel.

2.3 Communicate with family members, mourners and colleagues to facilitate efficient conduct of funeral according to workplace policies and procedures.

2.4 Move coffins or casket according to predetermined methods and procedures.

2.5 Respond to instructions from appropriate personnel as required.

Evidence of the ability to:

identify and follow funeral service requirements and instructions promptly

bear coffins or caskets using safe manual handling techniques and to use lifting and lowering devices

communicate effectively with family members, mourners

Evidence of performance of assisting with the conduct of five or more funerals is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.

Demonstrated knowledge of:

roles and responsibilities of personnel involved in conducting a funeral

considerations of work requirements for conducting funerals, including but not restricted to:

time of funeral

location of funeral:

monumental cemeteries

lawn cemeteries

mausoleum crypts

memorial gardens

cemeteries with historical or cultural significance

at sea

social, cultural and religious considerations:

the deceased person’s country of origin

funeral and mourning dress standards

funeral rites

full rites of services

cultural rituals to assist grieving

duration of mourning

wakes

religious denomination

spiritual symbolism

public profile of the deceased

burial procedures

time required between death and burial or cremation

taboos regarding death

text readings or scriptures

placing special personal effects with the deceased person

specific coffin or casket design

orientation of coffin

coffin or casket bearing

transport requirements

other client requirements

required staff

equipment and resources required for funerals:

selected text readings or scriptures

sound system

lighting and candles

flowers

photographs

lifting and lowering aids and devices

mats

protective restraints

church trucks

social, religious and cultural differences and traditions that impact on the conduct of funerals

professional funeral services industry parameters in dealing with the deceased and the bereaved

workplace policies and procedures regarding conduct of funerals, including burial procedures and operating requirements of relevant lifting devices and equipment.

Skills must be demonstrated in a funeral home, cemetery or crematoria workplace:

using suitable equipment and resources, including:

coffins or caskets, lifting and lowering equipment

under industry 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 funeral director, team members and family members and mourners

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.


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. Prepare to assist with a funeral.

1.1 Liaise with appropriate personnel to identify work requirements.

1.2 Identify and obtain required resources and equipment and check for serviceability.

1.3 Consult with team members as required to establish sequence of tasks and team member responsibilities.

1.4 Liaise with appropriate personnel to identify coffin or casket bearing requirements.

2. Provide assistance to funeral directors.

2.1 Accompany coffin or casket to burial locations.

2.2 Assist with conduct of funeral processions as instructed by appropriate personnel.

2.3 Communicate with family members, mourners and colleagues to facilitate efficient conduct of funeral according to workplace policies and procedures.

2.4 Move coffins or casket according to predetermined methods and procedures.

2.5 Respond to instructions from appropriate personnel as required.

Evidence of the ability to:

identify and follow funeral service requirements and instructions promptly

bear coffins or caskets using safe manual handling techniques and to use lifting and lowering devices

communicate effectively with family members, mourners

Evidence of performance of assisting with the conduct of five or more funerals is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.

Demonstrated knowledge of:

roles and responsibilities of personnel involved in conducting a funeral

considerations of work requirements for conducting funerals, including but not restricted to:

time of funeral

location of funeral:

monumental cemeteries

lawn cemeteries

mausoleum crypts

memorial gardens

cemeteries with historical or cultural significance

at sea

social, cultural and religious considerations:

the deceased person’s country of origin

funeral and mourning dress standards

funeral rites

full rites of services

cultural rituals to assist grieving

duration of mourning

wakes

religious denomination

spiritual symbolism

public profile of the deceased

burial procedures

time required between death and burial or cremation

taboos regarding death

text readings or scriptures

placing special personal effects with the deceased person

specific coffin or casket design

orientation of coffin

coffin or casket bearing

transport requirements

other client requirements

required staff

equipment and resources required for funerals:

selected text readings or scriptures

sound system

lighting and candles

flowers

photographs

lifting and lowering aids and devices

mats

protective restraints

church trucks

social, religious and cultural differences and traditions that impact on the conduct of funerals

professional funeral services industry parameters in dealing with the deceased and the bereaved

workplace policies and procedures regarding conduct of funerals, including burial procedures and operating requirements of relevant lifting devices and equipment.

Skills must be demonstrated in a funeral home, cemetery or crematoria workplace:

using suitable equipment and resources, including:

coffins or caskets, lifting and lowering equipment

under industry 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 funeral director, team members and family members and mourners

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

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
Liaise with appropriate personnel to identify work requirements. 
Identify and obtain required resources and equipment and check for serviceability. 
Consult with team members as required to establish sequence of tasks and team member responsibilities. 
Liaise with appropriate personnel to identify coffin or casket bearing requirements. 
Accompany coffin or casket to burial locations. 
Assist with conduct of funeral processions as instructed by appropriate personnel. 
Communicate with family members, mourners and colleagues to facilitate efficient conduct of funeral according to workplace policies and procedures. 
Move coffins or casket according to predetermined methods and procedures. 
Respond to instructions from appropriate personnel as required. 
Liaise with appropriate personnel to identify work requirements. 
Identify and obtain required resources and equipment and check for serviceability. 
Consult with team members as required to establish sequence of tasks and team member responsibilities. 
Liaise with appropriate personnel to identify coffin or casket bearing requirements. 
Accompany coffin or casket to burial locations. 
Assist with conduct of funeral processions as instructed by appropriate personnel. 
Communicate with family members, mourners and colleagues to facilitate efficient conduct of funeral according to workplace policies and procedures. 
Move coffins or casket according to predetermined methods and procedures. 
Respond to instructions from appropriate personnel as required. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SIFFFNL001 - Assist with the conduct of funerals
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

SIFFFNL001 - Assist with the conduct of funerals

Student name:

Student ID:

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

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: