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: 

Facilitate identification process of human remains 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
243635  Facilitate identification process of human remains 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Forensic Science 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Safety in Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  4 
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 is intended for persons who will be assisting with the identification process of bodies referred for medico-legal autopsies. Learners will be able to collect information for analytical forensic purposes for use in the identification purposes. This unit standard will provide learners with the competencies to deal with relatives and family members within a mortuary environment. Learners will also be able to handle the body of the deceased in keeping with human rights elements while still performing mortuary and forensic functions such as preparing the body for viewing and disposing of the body.

Persons accredited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Collect information to facilitate the identification process of the deceased.
  • Prepare the body for identification in a given situation.
  • Dispose of unidentified bodies through the process of pauper burials. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Communication at NQF 4 or equivalent.
  • Apply knowledge of anatomy, patho-physiology and trauma pathology at NQF 5.
  • Facilitate the identification process of human remains at NQF 5. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
  • In this unit standard gathering of information can be conducted either at the scene or at the medico-legal mortuary facility.
  • In this unit standard "given situation" refers but is not limited to structured scenario's, case studies, actual and or real situations. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Collect information to facilitate the identification process of the deceased. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Types of information are classified for the purpose of human identification. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Imaging techniques that illustrate special identification features of the body are demonstrated in a given situation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Imaging techniques: photograph, sketching, etc.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Documentation procedures for identification processes are explained as specified by organisational requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Information that assists in the identification process is interpreted as per organisational code. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Collection of specimens using specialized techniques for scientific identification purposes is demonstrated in a given situation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Specimens include but is not limited to: odontology, anthropology, DNA samples.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Prepare the body for identification in a given situation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Reconstruction techniques are applied to the body to assist in the identification process. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The body is prepared for viewing in accordance with organisational policy and procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Interview is conducted with family/friends of the deceased in a professional and dignified manner. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Documentation is compiled according to organisational procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Deceased persons personal property is managed in accordance with standard operating procedures. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Dispose of unidentified bodies through the process of pauper burials. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Conditions under which a body is considered for a pauper burial are explained as per legislation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The documentation and procedural processes required in anticipation of a pauper burial are carried out as per legislative requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The procedures for the removal of the body and the handling of the personal effects are carried out as per standard operating procedures. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • An individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Relevant Sections of:
  • Human Tissue Act.
  • National Health Act, Inquest Act.
  • Birth and Death Registration Act. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Problem solving is covered in that a learner must be able to assist in the identification of human remains. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Working in a team in that a learner must recognise that he or she is required to work as part of a team in a medico-legal environment in order to facilitate the identification process. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Self management in that the learner is responsible for organising and managing him/herself in relation to the information he/she is required to gather. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Learners are required to collect, analyze, organise and critically evaluate information relating to the identification of human remains. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Learners are required to communicate about identification issues using a variety of communication methods. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Learners are required to use science and technology in the identification process. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Learners are required to see the world as a set of related systems in that, when interacting with bereaved family and friends they conduct themselves in an ethically and culturally sensitive manner. 

    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 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  58183   National Diploma: Forensic Pathology Support  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 


    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.