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Conduct first offices on the deceased

URN: PPLFOS11
Business Sectors (Suites): Funeral Services
Developed by: People 1st
Approved on: 2022

Overview

First offices – the first stage of cleansing and arranging the deceased person's body in readiness for the next stage of their funeral journey.

This standard is about conducting first offices on the deceased, once all legal requirements have been met and your  clients have agreed to use the services of your funeral business. It is about preparing your work area for the care of the deceased whilst maintaining safe and hygienic procedures for yourself, your colleagues and the deceased. This standard also involves applying relevant Health and Safety legislation.

This standard is for funeral directors, funeral director’s assistants, funeral operatives and embalmers

When you have completed this standard you will be able to demonstrate your understanding of and ability to:

  • Conduct first offices on the deceased 

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

1. check with the client instructions that first offices is to be conducted and confirm that all legal requirements have been met 2. check the work area is in a clean and in a hygienic condition for preparing the deceased during first offices 3. check that required instruments and equipment are clean and safe for use, in accordance with relevant regulations, legislation, codes of practice and your funeral business' policies and procedures 4. wear personal protective clothing (PPE) that is appropriate to conducting first offices on the deceased 5. confirm the identity of the deceased by referring to relevant documentation prior to commencing any preparation in accordance with your funeral business' policy for identification 6. apply standard tests for death as required by the codes of practice and your funeral business' policies and procedures 7. promptly take remedial action and inform those who need to know when the evidence of risk of infection is identified 8. Remove, if required, any personal effects and jewellery from the deceased and record and store them securely 9. respect the dignity of the deceased at all times whilst conducting first offices 10. respect client’s requirements arising from religious customs or other beliefs at all times 11. prepare the body so that the deceased is dry, disinfected and is as clean as their condition allows 12. clean, disinfect and pack all necessary bodily orifices 13. set facial features to create a natural life-like appearance 14. follow relevant health and safety legislation at  all times when using cleansing substances for the work area and when conducting first offices on the deceased 15. check that the presentation of the deceased meets client requirements 16. keep your work area in a clean and hygienic condition whilst conducting first offices 17. dispose of waste safely and in accordance with relevant regulations, legislation, codes of practice and your funeral business' policies and procedures 18. check if the deceased has been authorised for embalming and let the embalmer know when the deceased is ready

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

1. why the performance of first offices must be confirmed with client requirements 2. why, if embalming is required, first offices will be completed by the embalmer and what the benefits of embalming are 3. how to follow relevant health and safety  legislation  4. why the work area needs to be in a clean and in a hygienic condition before undertaking first offices 5. which instruments and equipment are required during first offices and why these must be clean and safe for use 6. the personal protective equipment (PPE) that is required by your funeral business during first offices 7. why you need to respect the dignity of the deceased at all times whilst undertaking first offices 8. the importance of and procedure to confirm the identity of the deceased by referring to relevant documentation 9. the standard tests for death which must be conducted on the deceased 10. what remedial action to take and who to inform when evidence of infectious disease is identified 11. why personal effects and jewellery must be recorded and securely stored when removed from the deceased 12. the requirements which can arise from religious customs and other beliefs of the deceased and the client 13. the importance of preparation of the body to ensure the deceased is dry, disinfected and as clean as their condition allows 14. how and why you need to prepare bodily orifices so that they are clean, disinfected, packed and closed 15. why it is important to check that the presentation of the deceased meets client requirements 16. the importance of keeping your work area clean and hygienic whilst conducting first offices 17. your funeral business’ policies and procedures for the disposal of waste 18. the authorisation procedure for embalmment and your funeral business’ procedure for engaging the embalmer

Scope/range

When completing first offices, you must show that you can achieve the outcome when dealing with each of the following:

1. Work area:
1.1. internal premises
1.2. external premises

2. Instruments and equipment:
2.1. clinical
2.2. non-clinical

3. Waste:
3.1. soiled clothing
3.2. disposable materials
3.3. cleaning materials
3.4. sharps

4. Personal protective clothing:
4.1. to protect your head and face
4.2. to protect your hands and feet
4.3. to protect your body

5. Standard tests for death:
5.1. nervous system
5.2. circulatory system
5.3. respiratory system

6. Personal effects:
6.1. Jewellery and other personal items
6.2. clothes

7. Condition of the deceased:
7.1. no distressing appearance or hazards to health
7.2. distressing appearance, 
7.3. possible hazardous to health

Scope Performance

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

Links To Other NOS

​The standards in the funeral operations suite should be complemented by pan-sector standards such as working relationships, business, administration and resource management, as well as any other specific requirements of the employer.

External Links

Version Number

2

Indicative Review Date

2027

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

People 1st International Ltd

Original URN

PPLFOS11

Relevant Occupations

Funeral Director, Funeral Director’s Assistant, Funeral Services Attendant, Funeral Services Operative, Funeral Arranger

SOC Code

6138

Keywords

First offices; preparation; deceased; funeral