Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
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.

Mortuary personnel may include:
transfer workers
embalmer
embalmer's assistant
mortuary technician
other mortuary staff.


Mortuary procedures may include:
mortuary access
receiving deceased persons
releasing deceased persons
infection control practices
accident procedures.


Body preparation procedures may include:
use and maintenance of personal protective equipment
use and maintenance of instruments and equipment
infection control practices.


Workplace policies and procedures may be verbal or written and may include:
communication procedures
OHS procedures
standard operating policies and procedures
standards and certification requirements
quality assurance procedures
emergency procedures, including fire and accident procedures
security procedures.


Relevant legislation and regulations may include:
OHS
Anatomy Act
Human Tissue Act
Skin Penetration Act
Coroner's Act
Public Health Act
Environment Protection Act
local government regulations
funeral services industry code of practice
Worksafe Australia certification and standards.


Social, religious and cultural requirements may include:
gender of body preparation personnel
time required between death and burial or cremation
orientation of the deceased person
restrictions on methods of body preparation permissible.


Contingencies may include:
lack of staff
power failures.


Inconsistencies may include:
incomplete practices
incorrect practices
incorrect use of equipment.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
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:
ability to identify roles of mortuary personnel and relevant mortuary and body preparation procedures and practices and communicate this information to staff
ongoing monitoring staff application of relevant procedures and identification and correction of inconsistencies
knowledge of all body preparation procedures, infection control practices and safe manual handling techniques
supervising 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 bodies may be safely prepared and all mortuary operating procedures can be implemented, monitored and managed
interaction with mortuary personnel
access to relevant documentation, such as mortuary schedules.


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 communicating relevant policies and procedures to staff
observation of candidate monitoring mortuary schedules and assisting staff to address difficulties
written or verbal questioning to assess knowledge of OHS and infection control procedures and practices
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:
SIFOHS005A Implement and monitor infection and contamination control practices.

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.