Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to coordinate a range of mortuary operations including receiving and releasing decreased persons and maintaining the mortuary environment and equipment. It applies to funeral home staff working with a level of autonomy 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.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Receive deceased persons at a mortuary. | 1.1 Check transfer documentation is correct and complete and process. 1.2 Transfer the deceased person from vehicle to mortuary. 1.3 Check identification tag of deceased person. 1.4 Position the deceased person in mortuary using a headblock. 1.5 Complete personal effects register against the deceased’s personal property. |
2. Maintain mortuary environment. | 2.1 Update mortuary occupancy register. 2.2 Observe and maintain required temperature of mortuary. 2.3 Monitor and maintain cleanliness, tidiness and security of the mortuary. |
3. Maintain mortuary equipment. | 3.1 Maintain inventory of specialist and non-specialist mortuary equipment. 3.2 Conduct regular inspections of equipment and determine serviceability according to manufacturer guidelines. 3.3 Monitor equipment servicing schedules and arrange routine service and repairs as required. 3.4 Maintain equipment service or repair. |
4. Release deceased persons to other relevant agencies. | 4.1 Liaise with transfer and mortuary workers and other agency staff as required to determine arrangements for release of the deceased person to relevant agency. 4.2 Complete required release documentation and processes. 4.3 Remove the deceased person from mortuary at appointed time, checking identification tag. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to:
receive, position and release deceased persons
review and accurately complete documentation for receiving and releasing deceased persons
monitor and maintain mortuary equipment availability and serviceability and the cleanliness and security of mortuary.
Evidence of performance of coordinating mortuary operations on the receiving and releasing of two or more decreased persons is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge of:
documentation required for receiving and releasing deceased persons, 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
agencies in relation to receiving and releasing deceased persons, including but not restricted to:
Coroner’s Office
other funeral homes
hospitals
features and uses of specialist and non-specialist mortuary items
workplace policies and procedures for monitoring mortuary operations, including security procedures, climate control, maintaining equipment
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.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in a mortuary workplace:
using suitable equipment and resources, including:
mortuary equipment
documentation, including mortuary occupancy register
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 mortuary workers and agencies
Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Sectors
Embalming
Competency Field
Mortuary Work and Embalming