Venue and date to be arranged
This one-day training course (09.30 – 16.30) is run by RHE in collaboration with the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management (ICCM), and is aimed at Environmental Health Practitioners, Managers and other professionals who may become involved in Public Health Act Funerals (eg burial of the destitute) and the Exhumation of Human Remains.
The course is intended to provide delegates with a thorough understanding of the investigations required, the preparatory steps including risk assessments, and protocols to observe in handling human remains. The practicalities of Public Health Act Funerals will be examined in detail, including how cases should be referred, obligations in tracing next of kin, and handling the estate of the deceased.
The course will also focus on the legal and ethical frameworks which apply to different faiths and ethnic groups, and the UK law that governs Public Health Act Funerals and Exhumations.
The course is underpinned by resources developed for RIAMS, the online portal for Environmental Health Practitioners and Managers.
Online Benefits from RHE
RHE supplies Regulatory Information and Management Systems (RIAMS), delivering Exhumation and Public Health Act Funerals information, publications, documents and procedures.
Delegates will receive two weeks free access to Public Health resources on the RIAMS information portal (www.riams.org). Here delegates can reference and supplement their training with our extensive library of documents and procedures.
Certificates of attendance will be awarded to participants as evidence of CPD.
A 10% discount is available if there is more than one delegate from your organisation attending, provided that all places are booked at the same time.
Cost per person
£150.00 (+VAT) Public sector
£175.00 (+VAT) Private sector
Includes lunch, refreshments and access to online
delegate resources before and after the event.
Course summary
|
1.0 |
Exhumation of Human Remains |
|
1.1 |
Lawful Authority to Exhume — Section 25, Burial Act 1857 — Licence from the Ministry of Justice (Sheriff and Procurator Fiscal – Scotland) — Faculty Jurisdiction of the Church of England (Consecrated Ground – England only) — Coroner’s Warrant — Clearance of churchyards and burial grounds — Archaeological projects — Cremated remains |
|
1.2 |
Preparation — Generic risk assessment — Soil type and ground conditions — Rate of decomposition — Tools and equipment |
|
1.3 |
Safety in Excavations — The grave digging process — Working in confined spaces — Use of shoring |
|
1.4 |
Dealing with Human Remains — Risk of infection — PPE and disinfectant — Raising the coffin — Manual removal |
|
1.5 |
Transfer to the Funeral Director — Coffin shell — Precautions for transportation |
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1.6 |
Closure of the Grave — Order of backfilling — Treatment of tools, equipment and PPE |
|
2.0 |
Public Health Act Funerals |
|
2.1 |
Legal and Ethical Framework — Section 46 of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 — Local authority v hospital responsibility — Establishing a contract with a funeral director |
|
2.2 |
Referral of Cases — From family — From the Coroner or police — From a nursing or care home |
|
2.3 |
Conducting a Search — Pre-visit considerations — Health and safety factors and risk assessment — Collection and recording of information and valuables — Decency and sensitivity |
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2.4 |
Next of Kin — Will or no will — Steps to trace the next of kin — Informing the next of kin — Handing over responsibility |
|
2.5 |
Registration — Coroner’s cases — Non-Coroner’s cases — Copies of the death certificate |
|
2.6 |
The Funeral Service — Checking records for grave ownership/other family members — Burial or cremation? — Religious considerations and structure of the service |
|
2.7 |
The Estate — Legal considerations — Informing banks, building societies, etc — Selling items to recover costs — Bona vacantia — Accounting |
|
2.8 |
Record Keeping — Case files — Data protection — Freedom of information requests |
Cost per person
£150.00 (+VAT) Public Sector
£175.00 (+VAT) Private Sector
Includes lunch, refreshments and access to online delegate resources before and after the event.
