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 UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Describe the holistic care and support for the patient, family and/or significant others at a scene of death 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
254219  Describe the holistic care and support for the patient, family and/or significant others at a scene of death 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Occupational Health and Safety 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 09 - Health Sciences and Social Services Preventive Health 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  5 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

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 unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will enable the learner to provide total care and support for the patient, family and/or significant others at a scene of death. This unit standard will provide the emergency care worker with the necessary physical and emotional skills to confront death and to provide the necessary empathy and knowledge to manage the patient, family and/or significant others at this critical time. The multicultural and/or multi-religious belief systems and legislated practices related to death/care of bodies can be appropriately addressed, thus facilitating better care.

The qualifying learner will be capable of:
  • Discussing the relevant legislation and internal emergency care policies relating to management of bodies including deaths from possible suspicious causes which may lead to forensic investigation.
  • Providing appropriate physical care for the patient both prior to and immediately after death.
  • Providing appropriate emotional care and support for the patient, family and significant others both at the time of death and immediately afterwards. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Communication at NQF Level 2. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Holistic support implies physical, emotional, cultural and spiritual support. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Describe the relevant legislation and internal emergency care policies relating to management of bodies including those where death may have been due to unnatural causes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The legal requirements with regard to reporting and recording violent deaths are described in terms of accidental and/or self-inflicted death. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The legal requirements in terms of forensic investigation are described especially with regard to preserving the scene as much as possible. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Family members and/or significant others, where possible must be kept informed of all actions taken when removing the deceased and of the intended destination. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Provide appropriate physical care for the patient both prior to and immediately after death. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The patient is treated to the full extent of the emergency care worker's capability at first encounter. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The dying patient is not left alone and, where, possible, a colleague is sent to call the patient's family and/or significant others present at the scene. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The patient is treated with dignity throughout, even after death has been confirmed. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Any specific requests from the family and/or significant others immediately after death are, where possible, adhered to, e.g. saying special prayers over the body. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Provide appropriate care and support for the patient, family and/or significant others both at the time of death and immediately afterwards. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The family members and/or significant others are given time where possible to take farewell of the deceased where neither the safety of the living nor the preservation of forensic evidence is jeopardised. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The emergency care worker uses therapeutic touch to support the family members and/or significant others whilst acknowledging the various taboos of certain religions/cultures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    All legal requirements regarding violent death are explained to the family and/or significant others and repeated if necessary. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    All special rituals requested and/or required according to religious or cultural practices are, where possible acceded to. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a candidate against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA or ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding in place with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant ETQA or ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding in place with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA or ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding in place with the relevant ETQA, according to the moderation guidelines and agreed ETQA procedures. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Emotions associated with terminal care.
  • Customs, norms and values relating to death and dying associated with each of the multi-cultural/spiritual groups in South Africa.
  • Relevant legislation and internal emergency care policies relating to management of bodies including forensic deaths. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems relating to the correct cultural and spiritual requirements at the scene of death in order to provide the appropriate care and support to the family and/or significant others. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with other members of the health team, the family and/or significant others with regard to the care and support of all concerned at the scene of death. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage scene of death in a culturally and spiritually appropriate manner to ensure the care and support of the patient, the family and/or significant others and the rest of the health care team. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect information, written, verbal and environmental, in order to provide the appropriate care and support and record possible forensic evidence. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using language skills in the modes of oral, body language, therapeutic touch and/or written presentations when caring and supporting the dying patient, the family and/or significant others. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

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

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Credit Justification:

    Total hours required by the learner to achieve the required outcomes are as follows:

    Activity; Hours:
  • Classroom learning; 18 Hours.
  • Self-directed learning; 12 Hours.
  • Scenarios, role plays/simulations, value clarifications, discussion groups; 16 Hours.
  • Visits to mortuary and hospices ; 4 Hours.

    Total Hours = 50.

    Credits = 5. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  60249   National Certificate: Primary Response in Emergencies  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Registered"     		 2010-06-02  HW SETA 
    Core  78803   National Certificate: Primary Response in Emergencies  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Registered"     		 2013-06-02   


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    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.
     
    NONE 


    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.