Assessor Resource

SIFMWK004B
Coordinate mortuary operations

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit applies to funeral home staff and involves working under direction with a reasonable level of autonomy.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to receive deceased persons at a funeral home mortuary and release deceased persons to other agencies where authorised, implementing infection control and security procedures to ensure that the mortuary environment remains hygienic and secure. It involves liaison with external personnel and agencies.

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

Prerequisites

Nil

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



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.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

the ability to receive, position and release deceased persons and to accurately review and complete documentation for receiving and releasing deceased persons

monitoring and maintenance of mortuary equipment availability and serviceability, the cleanliness and security of mortuary

knowledge of infection control practices and safe manual handling techniques

coordinating mortuary operations over a period of time to ensure consistency of performance and ability to respond to and evaluate different situations.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

demonstration of skills in a mortuary facility where deceased persons can be received and correct temperature and security requirements can be maintained

access to relevant documentation, such as mortuary occupancy register

access to mortuary equipment.

Methods of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

observation of candidate receiving, positioning and releasing deceased persons at a mortuary and applying relevant legislation and workplace policies and procedures to maintain mortuary environment

written or verbal questioning to assess knowledge and understanding of relevant procedures with regard to maintaining a mortuary and releasing deceased persons to other relevant agencies

review of workplace documents completed by candidate

review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

SIFMWK005A Determine body preparation requirements.

Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification and in the context of the job role.

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.

Required skills

infection control practices and safe manual handling techniques

communication skills, including clear and direct communication and active listening and questioning techniques to liaise with relevant agencies and key personnel to manage receipt and release of deceased persons

organisational skills to manage receipt and release of deceased persons

literacy and numeracy skills to accurately check and complete required documentation

problem-solving skills to monitor and manage the maintenance of mortuary equipment.

Required knowledge

workplace policies and procedures for receiving and releasing deceased persons

documentation requirements

broad working knowledge of relevant federal, state or territory, and local government legislation and regulations relating to transfer documentation, OHS, infection control and handling human remains

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

correct and environmentally sound disposal methods for all types of waste and in particular for hazardous substances

funeral services industry parameters and protocols for dealing with the deceased.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Documentation may include:

Death Certificate or Certificate of Life Extinct

notification 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.

Workplace policies and procedures may include:

standard operating policies and procedures

reporting and recording procedures

standards and certification requirements

quality assurance procedures

OHS procedures, including:

infection control

manual handling

material handling procedures, including hazardous or infectious materials

emergency procedures, including fire and accident procedures

security procedures.

workplace practices in regard to environmental considerations.

Relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice may include:

OHS

Anatomy Act

Coroner's Act

federal transportation regulations

Airlines Act

Public Health Act

Environment Protection Act

Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration

approved code of practice for embalmers

Dangerous Goods Act

local government regulations

funeral services industry code of practice

cemetery Acts and by-laws

Crematorium Acts

Worksafe Australia certification and standards.

Mortuary equipment may include:

personal protective equipment, including:

disposable gloves

heavy duty gloves

protective overgarments

overshoes

waterproof aprons

masks and goggles

positioning devices

aspirating instruments

sterilisation equipment

sterilisation chemicals and solutions

portiboy

feature setting devices

instruments and instrument tray

dressing table

tubing for aspirating or injecting

electric drill or grinder

disinfectant hand solution, paper towels and soap

body grooming equipment

plastic laundry bags

plastic infectious waste bags

biomedical waste containers for infectious and radioactive human tissue

pedestal lamps

linen

flow meter

first aid kit

packs of padding

cotton packer

plastic sheeting for wrapping bodies

waterproof tape

capsules for transporting babies.

Key personnel may include:

transfer workers

embalmer

embalmer's assistant

mortuary technicians

other mortuary staff

other relevant agency staff.

Relevant agency may include:

Coroner's Office

other funeral homes

hospitals.

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
Check transfer documentation is correct and complete and process according to workplace policies and procedures, and relevant legislation. 
Transfer the deceased person from vehicle to mortuary according to workplace policies and procedures, and relevant legislation. 
Position the deceased person in mortuary according to workplace policies and procedures. 
Complete personal effects register according to workplace policies and procedures. 
Update mortuary occupancy register according to workplace policies and procedures, and relevant legislation. 
Monitor and maintain required temperature of mortuary according to workplace policies and procedures. 
Monitor and maintain cleanliness, tidiness and security of the mortuary according to workplace policies and procedures. 
Maintain inventory of specialist and non-specialist mortuary equipment according to workplace policies and procedures. 
Conduct regular inspections of equipment and determine serviceability according to manufacturer guidelines. 
Monitor equipment servicing schedules according to workplace policies and procedures and arrange routine service and repairs as required. 
Maintain equipment service or repair records according to workplace policies and procedures. 
Liaise with key personnel as required to determine arrangements for release of the deceased person to relevant agency. 
Complete required release documentation and processes according to workplace policies and procedures, and relevant legislation. 
Remove the deceased person from mortuary at appointed time according to workplace policies and procedures, and relevant legislation. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SIFMWK004B - Coordinate mortuary operations
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

SIFMWK004B - Coordinate mortuary operations

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: