Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range Statement provides details of the scope of the Elements and Performance Criteria to allow for differences within enterprises and workplaces, including practices, knowledge and requirements. It also provides a focus for assessment and relates to the unit as a whole. The Range Statement is provided as a guide only and lists are not exhaustive. The following variables may be present:

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

Workplace policies and procedures may include:

standard operating policies and procedures

standards and certification requirements

quality assurance procedures

OHS procedures

emergency, fire and accident procedures

security procedures.

Social, cultural or religious requirements may include:

funeral/mourning dress standards (Middle Eastern, Asian, European, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders)

gender of body preparation personnel

perceived inappropriate behaviour

time required between death and burial/cremation

orientation of the deceased person

restrictions on methods of body preparation permissible.

OHS procedures are to be in accordance with State/Territory legislation and regulations and may include:

workplace environment and safety

personal protective equipment

manual handling procedures

use of tools and equipment

materials handling procedures including for hazardous or infectious materials.

Infection control practices may include:

checking for infectious/transmittable disease

using personal protective equipment

sterilising apparatus/instruments

providing sterile storage areas for instruments

use of disinfectants

safe removal and disposal of soiled/contaminated garments

safe ventilation

avoiding invasive procedures on bodies

immunisation

periodic X-rays

seeking medical advice

recording injury and incidence

reporting injury and incidence

providing first aid kit

performing first aid as necessary

labeling clothing.

Applicable legislation and regulations may be Federal, State specific or Local Government specific and may include:

Workplace/Occupational Health and Safety Act 1985

Anatomy Act 1964

Coroner's Act 1957

Federal Transportation Regulations/Airlines Act

Public Health Act

Environment Protection Act

Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages Act

Approved Code of Practice for Embalmers

Dangerous Goods Act

Local Government Acts

Funeral Services Industry Code of Practice

relevant cemetery acts/bylaws

general cemetery regulations

Cemeteries Act

Crematorium Act

Worksafe Australia Certification and Standards.

The following components relate directly to this unit's Performance Criteria and Range Statement and will inform and provide guidance for assessment of the unit in the workplace and/or training program.
Critical Aspects of Evidence
Evidence of the following knowledge and skills is considered essential to demonstrate competency in this unit. This includes demonstration of the Key Competencies at the performance level identified at the end of this unit:
Accurate identification of the roles and duties of mortuary personnel.
Accurate identification of applicable workplace policies and procedures, OHS procedures, infection control practices and legislation and regulations and demonstrated ability to clearly communicate knowledge to staff.
Accurate knowledge of a range of applicable social, cultural and religious requirements and demonstrated ability to clearly communicate knowledge to staff.
Accurate identification of mortuary procedures and body preparation procedures and demonstrated ability to clearly communicate this knowledge to staff.
Demonstrated ability to monitor mortuary schedules and assist staff in resolving difficulties or unexpected problems.
Demonstrated ability to monitor mortuary procedures and body preparation, identify and address any breaches in the application of workplace policies and procedures, OHS procedures, infection control practices and legislation and regulations and assist staff in addressing any other problems encountered.

Underpinning Knowledge and Skills
The following knowledge, understanding and skills are essential to perform this unit to the required standard:
Knowledge of manual handling techniques, first aid, OHS and infection control practices.
Verbal and non-verbal communication skills, including:
telephone skills
listening skills
negotiation, dispute resolution and assertiveness skills
the ability to communicate honestly and truthfully with professional openness.
Literacy and numeracy skills, including:
ability to interpret and understand written documentation
ability to accurately complete required documentation
ability to read drawing specifications.
Knowledge and understanding of and respect for social, religious and cultural differences and traditions.
Ability to relate to people from a range of social, cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds and physical and mental abilities.
Knowledge of workplace policies and procedures.
Ability to work in a team and coordinate others.
Knowledge and understanding of relevant Federal, State/Territory and Local Government legislation and regulations.
Ability to recognise professional parameters.
Life experience and common sense.
Planning skills, organisational skills, time management skills, punctuality.
Problem solving skills, decision making skills.
Stress management skills.
Personal integrity, ethics and accountability.

Context of Assessment
For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, competency should be consistently demonstrated over a period of time and observed by the assessor and/or the technical expert working in partnership with the assessor. The technical expert may include an experienced person at the workplace.
Competency should be demonstrated in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment through a range of situations which may include interruptions and involvement in other related activities normally expected in the work environment.
Assessment should be undertaken in an environment that meets industry codes of practice and relevant industry regulations and legislation.

Interdependent Assessment of Unit
All units which relate to a job function can be considered as co-requisites to assist with an integrated approach to assessment. For this unit, the following co-requisite units particularly apply:
WFSPCS201 Carry out infection and contamination control practices
WFSPCS203 Carry out mortuary OHS procedures
WFSABO101A Process Funeral Services Industry documentation
WFSPCS302A Implement and monitor infection and contamination control practices
For advice on integrated assessment of units within and across qualifications, refer to the Assessment Guidelines.

Assessment Methods

Observation of staff member performing a range of workplace tasks over sufficient time to demonstrate the handling of a range of contingencies. Tasks may include but are not limited to:

identifying and applying procedural knowledge for overseeing the operation of a mortuary
overseeing the mortuary scheduling
monitoring body preparation procedures
monitoring the adherence to infection control and OHS procedures
demonstrating empathy, confidentiality and tact in relation to performing the required tasks
Written and/or oral questioning to assess knowledge and understanding of relevant procedures with regard to overseeing the operation of a mortuary. Questions will be asked in a manner appropriate to the language and literacy level of the staff member.
Participation in role plays in relation to liaising with relevant personnel and/or problem resolution.
Completing workplace documentation relevant to workplace requirements.

Assessment Resources
All resources must be provided for the assessment. If workplace based, the resources should relate specifically to policies, procedures and range of tools and equipment. If an off the job or simulated work environment is used then resources should be applicable to the work environment.
Resources may include:
A real or simulated work environment.
Relevant documentation such as:
workplace policies and procedures
mortuary schedules
documentation as identified in the Range Statement.
Industry codes of practice and relevant legislation and regulations.
Access to a range of stakeholders with a range of requirements (real or simulated).
A qualified workplace assessor and/or a technical expert working in partnership with the assessor.

There are a number of processes that are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies. Key competencies are generic competencies that focus on the capacity to apply knowledge and skills in an integrated way in work situations, but are not specific to any particular industry. Key competencies foster the development of skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to perform work operations. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 1 = the competence needed to undertake tasks effectively, 2 = the ability to manage tasks, and 3 = the ability to use concepts for evaluating and reshaping tasks.
Communicating ideas and information
By communicating ideas and information about mortuary procedures and body preparation procedures with mortuary staff. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By gathering OHS, infection control and legislative and regulatory information relevant to mortuary operations, selecting and collating this data in a suitable format, and communicating it to staff. (2)

Planning and organising activities
By scheduling mortuary work and addressing scheduling difficulties. (2)

Working with others and in teams
By facilitating team work amongst mortuary staff in the completion of mortuary procedures and body preparation procedures and encouraging participation and contribution to workplace policies and procedures. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By developing mortuary work schedules. (1)

Solving problems
By independently resolving all routine issues associated with operating a mortuary or accessing suitable support within or outside the workplace to resolve non-routine problems. (2)

Using technology
By developing mortuary work schedules and gathering and collating OHS, infection control and legislative and regulatory information relevant to mortuary operations into a suitable format for staff. (1)