Embalmer
Health and science
Level 5 -
To preserve, sanitise and present a deceased person, ensuring confidentiality, minimising risks to public heath and assisting the bereaved by contributing to a healthy grieving process.
Reference: OCC0890
Status:
SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
- 6138/03 Embalmers
Technical Education Products
Employers involved in creating the standard:
The Co-operative Group, Dignity, Funeral partners, CPJ Field, S.Stibbards & Sons, A.R.Adams Ltd, East of England Co-op, Lincolnshire Co-op, People First
Summary
This occupation is found in the death care industry, typically within funeral organisations. Embalmers may be employed by an organisation or self-employed trade. The broad purpose of the occupation is to preserve, prepare and present a deceased person, minimising risks to public heath and assisting the bereaved by contributing to a healthy grieving process. In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with internal and external stakeholders, for example the deceased, families, clients, funeral branches, doctors, crematoria, cemeteries, care homes, nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, coroners, mortuary technicians. An employee in this occupation will be responsible for respectful and dignified care of the deceased and safe working practises within the area of work. Embalmers are responsible for verifying the completion of all necessary documentation prior to carrying out an embalming, carrying out embalming and the practical application of expertise and theoretical knowledge of embalming on a case-by-case basis to provide the best possible care to the deceased and experience to their families. Embalmers often work alone or with the assistance of a mortuary technician in a sterile theatre attached to a funeral home or in a standalone mortuary. Under normal circumstances they work set hours but in exceptional circumstances, for example in the case of a flu epidemic, they may have to work unsociable hours in order to meet the industry demands.
Employers involved in creating the standard:
The Co-operative Group, Dignity, Funeral partners, CPJ Field, S.Stibbards & Sons, A.R.Adams Ltd, East of England Co-op, Lincolnshire Co-op, People First
Typical job titles include:
Keywords:
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
Duties
Duty D1
Check chemicals, funeral consumables, sundries, instruments, ancillary equipment, Personal protective equipment and ventilation systems ready for commencement of caseload
Duty D2
Carry out ongoing caseload review, liaise with team to agree work flow in line with business priorities and check all documents in line with legislation noting cause of death if available
Duty D3
Complete dynamic case risk assessments, identifying all hazards including potential infection, recording and escalating risks as required
Duty D4
Carry out case assessments to identify unique details and physical tasks required for each deceased
Duty D5
Carry out pre-embalming requirements such as, PPE, identification, tests for death, disinfection, personal protective equipment removal of clothing, set features)
Duty D6
Carry out embalming taking into account the unique case details identified this could include the embalming of an autopsy or non-autopsy case, adult, infant, mass trauma, repatriation, tissue donor, decomposition
Duty D7
Carry out additional treatment dressing pressure sores, removal of intravenous cannula, catheters, application of barrier cream, topical and localised treatments as required
Duty D8
Carry out removal of medical implants as required
Duty D9
Carry out completion procedures, such as closing incisions, personal grooming, insertion of dentures
Duty D10
Carry out basic cosmetic reconstruction as required may require waxing, cream cosmetics, air brushing
Duty D11
Carry out final presentation of embalmed deceased dressing, encoffining,communicating any requirements to team members
Duty D12
Clean embalming theatre, equipment and instruments, to ensure infection control, disposal of hazardous waste and reporting of defects and completing documentation in compliance with legislation
Duty D13
Complete case assessment documentation as necessary in line with statutory and organisational requirements
Duty D14
Communicate with third parties, clients, doctors, internal and external stakeholders, maintaining confidentiality and ensuring the business delivers the highest level of care and service to the client and the deceased
Duty D15
Deliver and participate in on-going learning and continuous development of self and team
Occupational Progression
This occupational progression map shows technical occupations that have transferable knowledge and skills.
In this map, the focused occupation is highlighted in yellow. The arrows indicate where transferable knowledge and skills exist between two occupations. This map shows some of the strongest progression links between the focused occupation and other occupations.
It is anticipated that individuals would be required to undertake further learning or training to progress to and from occupations. To find out more about an occupation featured in the progression map, including the learning options available, click the occupation.
Progression decisions have been reached by comparing the knowledge and skills statements between occupational standards, combined with individualised learner movement data.
Health and science