Take a first call and transfer the deceased into care

You are a transfer assistant on the evening first-call roster.

Simulated workplaceEntry missionCAQA Everlasting Funeral Services

This mission touches on a mature theme. It is fictional. If it brings up something hard for you, you can stop at any time and talk to someone you trust.

What is going on

At 7:40 pm Wattle Grove Aged Care phones to report that a resident, Mrs Dorothy Kruger, has died and the visiting doctor has certified the death. The on-call arranger has created the case in the funeral case register and dispatched you and Jordan Fairweather. The family are at the bedside and have asked for a short time with her before she is moved. The aged care home has advised no infection risk and no implanted devices, and the resident's dentures are in place. Transfer van 3 is on the depot apron. The mortuary assistant at Bayswater is expecting you before 9:30 pm.

Jordan Fairweather, Fleet and Transfers Coordinator
Subject: First call from Wattle Grove Aged Care tonight

We have a first call from Wattle Grove Aged Care for a resident who died this evening, doctor has certified. You are on the transfer crew with me tonight. Before we leave, read the first call and transfer procedure and have the deceased transfer and identification form ready. The family are with the resident and have asked for a few minutes before we move her. Check the case has been created in the funeral case register and add the transfer notes when we are back at Bayswater. I will do the vehicle pre-start with you at the depot.

Your brief

Complete a safe, respectful and fully documented transfer from the aged care home to the Bayswater mortuary. Every identification step, every item of personal effects and the handover must be recorded so that the chain of custody is unbroken from the bedside to the cool room.

Work through it

You do not need to do it all. Doing a few of these will show you what the work is like. Your ticks and notes stay on this device.

Read the first call and transfer procedure and the care and identification of the deceased policy, and list the checks you must complete before the deceased is moved.
Complete the vehicle pre-start check for transfer van 3 and confirm the stretcher, body bag, PPE kit, wrist tags and a blank deceased transfer and identification form are on board.
On arrival, introduce yourself to the registered nurse and the family, confirm the doctor has certified the death and allow the family their time with Mrs Kruger.
With Jordan, complete the two-person identification check against the wrist band and the home's documentation, attach the Everlasting wrist tag and record the tag number on the form.
Itemise the personal effects on the form, have the nurse witness the list, and plan the lift and route from the room to the vehicle using the stretcher and slide sheet.
Transport the deceased to Bayswater, complete the handover identification check with the mortuary assistant, and place the deceased in refrigeration within one hour of arrival.
Update the funeral case register with the transfer notes and the time of arrival, then clean the vehicle and stretcher and record the clean in the fleet and equipment register.
Write a short reflection on how you communicated with the family and what you would do if the wrist band and the documentation had not matched.

My notes: what did I enjoy, and what surprised me?

What someone in this role would produce

Completed deceased transfer and identification form with both crew signatures and the handover signature
Updated funeral case register entry with transfer notes
Vehicle pre-start and post-transfer clean record
Reflection on family communication and the identification mismatch response

Printing this is a record of what you explored. It is not a certificate or a qualification.