SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

National Diploma: Funeral Services Practice

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
21789	National Diploma: Funeral Services Practice
ORIGINATOR
SGB Funeral Services
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
SERVICES - Services Sector Education and Training Authority			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
National Diploma	Field 11 - Services		Personal Care
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	262	Level 5	NQF Level 05	Regular-Unit Stds Based
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 9999/99	2018-07-01	2023-06-30
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30		2030-06-30

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Any individual who is or wishes to be involved in the Funeral Services Industry, will have access to this qualification. It also serves as an advanced qualification into Funeral Service operations and support. This qualification will be registered at NQF Level 5.

A learner can complete the qualification specialising in Embalming and Restoration, Marketing and Merchandising or Disaster Management. The core unit standards are common to all three areas of specialisation. Portability across these areas of specialisation is therefore ensured.

Learners working towards this qualification will find that the acquisition of competence in the Unit Standards, which make up the Qualification, will add value to the learner`s job. This Qualification is intended to enhance the provision of quality service within the Funeral Service Industry.

The learners will be able to integrate supervisory and managerial knowledge and skills with those ensuring the funeral business operates smoothly, and those of customer services. It also enables the learner to use competencies that will grow the business.

Building day-to-day managerial qualities as well as general operational competencies, the Qualification will ensure progression of learning, enabling the learner to meet standards of excellence set within the Funeral Services Industry.
It will provide the broad knowledge, skills and values needed in the Funeral Services Industry and will facilitate access to, and mobility and progression within, education and training, and progress along a learning path for learners who:

Were previously disadvantaged or who were unable to complete their schooling and were therefore denied access to Further Education and Training.

Have worked in the Funeral Services Industry for many years, but have no formal qualification.

Wish to extend their range of skills and knowledge of the industry so that they can become competent workers in the Funeral Services Industry.

The Qualification has building blocks that can be developed further and will lead to a more defined Funeral Services learning path at more complex NQF levels. It also focuses on the skills, knowledge, values and attitudes required to progress further.
The intention is

To promote the development of knowledge, skills and values that are required in the Funeral Services Industry.

To release the potential of people.

To provide opportunities for people to move up the value chain.

Rationale for the qualification

The National Diploma in Funeral Services Practice: NQF Level 5 is designed to meet the needs of those learners who are already involved in the field of Funeral Services and now wish to practise in a supervisory / managerial career in the Funeral Service Industry. The Funeral Service Industry is an essential industry and by its very nature a constant supply of customers is ensured. This means there is a need to develop career paths in this field, and it is an industry constantly in need of skilled people.

The Funeral Services Practice National Diploma at NQF Level 5 supports the objectives of the NQF in that it gives the learner access to the National Qualifications Framework. It will therefore ensure that the quality of education and training is enhanced and be of a world-class standard.

The National Diploma in Funeral Services Practice: NQF Level 5 allows the learner to work towards a nationally recognised qualification. The qualification will allow both those in formal education institutions and those already employed in organisations in the funeral business access to a qualification that can be used as a benchmark to gauge their competence against local and international standards.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Learners accessing this qualification, will have demonstrated competence against standards in funeral services qualification - National Diploma in Funeral Services Practice at NQF Level 4 or equivalent.

Recognition of Prior Learning

The structure of this Unit Standard based Qualification makes the Recognition of Prior Learning possible, if the learner is able to demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes implicit in this Funeral Services Practice Qualification. Recognition of Prior Learning will be done by means of an Integrated Assessment as mentioned in the previous paragraph

This Recognition of Prior Learning may allow:

For accelerated access to further learning

Gaining of credits towards a unit standard

Gaining of credits from informal or non-formal sources of learning

All recognition of Prior Learning is subject to quality assurance by the relevant accredited Education, Training, Quality, Assurance Body and is conducted by a registered workplace assessor.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

N/A.

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

Exit level Outcomes

The critical cross-field outcomes are integrated into the assessment criteria of each Unit Standard. Whilst each Unit Standard is designed to be assessed on its own, (including the critical cross-field outcomes), unit standards have been combined into exit-level outcomes of marketable skills that can be assessed accordingly. On achieving this qualification, the learner will be able to:

1. Manage funerals and funeral ceremonies
2. Manage the marketing and merchandising of rpoducts and services
3. Monitor and control embalming of human remains
4. Manage the process of exhumation
5. Manage the disaster scene

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

1. Manage funerals and funeral ceremonies

Interaction with the bereaved family during and after the funeral is observed and evaluated

Approval of funeral plan is obtained from role-players and the plan is implemented according to
agreed-upon timelines

Funeral site preparations is evaluated against organizational standards

Funeral ceremonies are observed and evaluated against standards and instructions

2. Manage the marketing and merchandising of products and services

Sales promotional activities are consistent with sales objectives and satisfy client needs

Display design is assessed against display objectives

Sales objectives fit the resource make-up of the organization

Personnel selling skills are assessed through observation and performance appraisal techniques

3. Monitor and control embalming of human remains

Human remains are inspected to identify repairs to be undertaken as per instructions

Human remains are handled with all precautionary measures being taken for the prevention of disease and infections

4. Manage the process of exhumation

Legal obligations are assessed to ensure compliance

Site is inspected to ensure compliance of procedures and processes

5. Manage the disaster scene

Disaster data is gathered and assessed to determine specialist services

The needs and requirements of the disaster are established from available data

Progress of operation is monitored to ensure compliance and completion

Debriefing sessions are conducted with relevant parties to obtain facts

Integrated Assessment

Because assessment practices must be open, transparent, fair, valid, and reliable and ensure that no learner is disadvantaged in any way whatsoever, an integrated assessment approach is incorporated into the qualification.

Learning, teaching and assessment are inextricably linked. Whenever possible, the assessment of knowledge, skills, attitudes and values shown in the Unit Standards should be integrated.

Assessment of the communication, language, literacy and numeracy should be conducted in conjunction with other aspects and should use authentic Funeral Services contexts wherever possible.
A variety of methods must be used in assessment, and tools and activities must be appropriate to the context in which the learner is working. Where it is not possible to assess the learner in the workplace or on-the-job, simulations, case studies, role-plays and other similar techniques should be used to provide a context appropriate to the assessment.

The term `Integrated Assessment` implies that theoretical and practical components should be assessed together. During integrated assessments the assessor should make use of formative and summative assessment methods and assess combinations of practical, applied, foundational and reflective competencies.

Assessors and moderators should make use of a range of formative and summative assessment methods. Assessors should assess and give credit for the evidence of learning that has already been acquired through formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience.

Assessment should ensure that all specific outcomes, embedded knowledge and critical cross-field outcomes are evaluated. The assessment of the critical cross-field outcomes should be integrated with the assessment of specific outcomes and embedded knowledge.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

Benchmarking was done by comparison to Unit Standards / Outcomes of learning against:

The New Zealand qualifications - `National Certificate in Embalming`, National Certificate in Funeral Directing and the `National Diploma in Funeral Directing, with a total credit value of 302 credits. The SGB also compared the unit standards in this qualification to the 21 New Zealand unit standards at levels 3, 4 and 5.

NVQ Qualifications from Britain. The NVQ`s in funeral Service - Levels 2 and 3.

A direct comparison of the title, specific outcomes, assessment criteria and embedded knowledge was undertaken with each and the best practice points were highlighted and incorporated into each unit standard. However the points incorporated were written in a South African context.

Because of the difference in levels across the different countries, difficulty was found in making actual direct comparisons, level to level.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This Qualification articulates, both vertically and horizontally, with Qualifications in a wide range of areas of economic activity. A learner could follow a career in:

Funeral Directing

Funeral Business Ownership

Funeral Administration Management

Embalming and Restoration of Human Remains

Funeral Insurance Sales Management

Marketing and Merchandising Management

Disaster Scene Management

Funeral Undertaking

Inventory and Material Handling Supervision

Mortuary Administration Management

Mortuary Management

Funeral Service Managers

Psychological counselling

MODERATION OPTIONS

Anyone assessing a learner or moderating the assessment of a learner against this Qualification must be registered as an assessor with the relevant Education, Training, Quality, and Assurance (ETQA) Body.

Any institution offering learning that will enable the achievement of this Qualification must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.

Assessment and moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the ETQA`s policies and guidelines for assessment and moderation; in terms of agreements reached around assessment and moderation between ETQA`s (including professional bodies); and in terms of the moderation guideline detailed immediately below.

Moderation must include both internal and external moderation of assessments at exit points of the qualification, unless ETQA policies specify otherwise. Moderation should also encompass achievement of the competence described both in individual unit standards as well as the integrated competence described in the qualification.

Anyone wishing to be assessed against this Qualification may apply to be assessed by any assessment agency, assessor or provider institution that is accredited by the relevant ETQA.

Notes

The above is an indication rather than an exhaustive listing.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

For an applicant to register as an assessor, the applicant needs:

To have the technical competence to achieve the Qualification themselves and must hold a Qualification one level above or equivalent, and should demonstrate evaluative ability in relation to the outcomes of the Qualification

To be declared competent in all the outcomes of the National Assessor Unit Standards as stipulated by South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)

Detailed documentary proof of educational qualification, practical training undergone, and experience gained by theapplicant must be provided (portfolio of evidence).

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015.

NOTES

As per the SAQA decision to re-register all provider-based qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework that meet the criteria for re-registration, this qualification has been re-registered from 1 July 2018. N/A

UNIT STANDARDS:

	ID	UNIT STANDARD TITLE	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	CREDITS
Core	10018	Deal with brand, product and service promotions	Level 4	NQF Level 04	4
Core	14160	Co-ordinate and monitor funeral ceremonies	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	9
Core	14175	Co-ordinate community projects for a funeral business	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	9
Core	14155	Create and maintain positive workplace relationships	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	5
Core	14178	Design presentations for products and services	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	11
Core	10067	Develop customer needs and relationships	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	16
Core	10054	Identify and manage areas of customer service impact	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	6
Core	14173	Integrate funeral information and arrangements	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	8
Core	7858	Maintain supply levels	Level 5	NQF Level 05	10
Core	14165	Manage the exhumation of human remains	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	10
Core	14158	Oversee the preparation of funerals	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	10
Core	14161	Produce, co-ordinate and integrate all aspects of a funeral business	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	15
Core	14157	Repair human remains for viewing and deal with problems in the preparation of human remains	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	9
Core	7885	Research and update the legal knowledge required for business compliance	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	8
Core	7874	Contribute to the provision of required staff	Level 6	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6	5
Core	14187	Design and structure funeral provision options	Level 6	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6	12
Core	14179	Develop specifications for products and services	Level 6	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6	11
Core	14167	Embalm human remains with complications and/or trauma	Level 6	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6	17
Core	14166	Establish and monitor training in a funeral business	Level 6	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6	16
Core	14183	Monitor the well-being of clients and personnel	Level 6	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6	16
Fundamental	7784	Communicate in a business environment	Level 4	NQF Level 04	6
Fundamental	8974	Engage in sustained oral communication and evaluate spoken texts	Level 4	NQF Level 04	5
Fundamental	9243	Monitor occupational health and safety	Level 4	NQF Level 04	8
Fundamental	7822	Prepare written communications	Level 4	NQF Level 04	3
Fundamental	8662	Analyse and communicate workplace data	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	5
Fundamental	8647	Apply workplace communication skills	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	10
Fundamental	9224	Implement policies regarding HIV/AIDS in the workplace	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	4
Elective	14168	Monitor and control embalming of human remains without complications	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	6
Elective	14170	Plan and design product displays	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	10
Elective	14171	Set and monitor sales standards in a funeral business	Level 5	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5	12
Elective	14176	Establish, manage and debrief disaster teams	Level 6	Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6	25

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

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