BC Funeral Service Apprenticeships

1. BC Funeral Service Apprenticeships Using your Log Book and Evidence Binder

2. Welcome • Today’s Objectives • Introduce the Log Book & Evidence Binder & provide a brief overview of the workplace assessment system you will use during your apprenticeship • Overview of the Mentor’s role and responsibilities • Overview of the Assessor’s role & responsibilities

3. Program Materials • Program Outlines • Basis of program - outlines competencies covered in school & assessed in workplace • Log Book & Evidence Binder - instructions & forms • + Flash drive – Daily Journal • Mentor Guidelines • Assessor Guidelines • Text books – for school

4. What is workplace assessment? • Apprenticeship has 2 types of learning • Academic – in school & online • On-the-job or workplace – The apprentice demonstrates skills & knowledge in regular workplace activities & obtains verification & evidence to attest to the competence. • Verification is supplied by your “mentor” (typically the employer) & your peers • Works in combination with workplace hours requirement (3,600 hrs.)

5. People involved in the assessment process: • Apprentice: • You - The person working towards their licence as a funeral director and/or embalmer • Mentor: • The person who employs, supervises and trains the you, the apprentice, on the job. The mentor is responsible for providing balanced work experience and training in all phases of funeral service. • Peers: • Peers are the your fellow employees who are licensed Funeral Directors and/or Embalmers who work with you and witness and confirm that the work took place as specified. • Assessor: • A person hired on behalf of the Funeral Service Association of British Columbia (FSABC) to act as an independent Assessor for specific events.

6. Log Book Basics READ INTRODUCTION & INSTRUCTIONS ASAP • Just follow the 4 simple steps - instructions & examples are in Log Book • Indexed into sections for clarity

7. Keep both binders up-to-date • Reviewed throughout apprenticeship by Mentor & Assessor • Review with Mentor periodically & before school session • Scheduled review at January & June school sessions each year & at workplace visits • Come prepared for review – reports done, evidence referenced & filed, etc. • Keep in a safe, secure place

8. 4 Work Experience components • Daily Journal • Declarations • Event Reports/Case Studies • Evidence Collection

9. Daily Journaling • Easy to use spreadsheet format on flash drive received with Log Book –shows weekly snapshot of work • Fill in – use guide for codes • Print out and add to Log Book • Keeps running total of hours, so easy to complete “Work Experience Summary Report” • Recognize timing of experience varies from place to place – i.e. FD and embalming done in blocks

10. Example of Daily Journal

11. Example of Work Exp. Summary

12. Funeral Service and Embalming Declarations • During a Funeral Director apprenticeship you must: • assist with 25 funeral arrangement contracts • manage 25 funeral arrangement contracts • During an Embalming apprenticeship you must: • assist with 25 embalmings • manage 25 embalmings • Report using the Funeral Service Declaration or the Embalming Declaration – a simple list

13. Example of Declaration

14. Event Reports & Case Studies - Key elements of the FSP workplace competency assessment • Event Reports/Case Studies • Assess specific areas/events that an apprentice handles • Progress measured in steps • 1st year emphasis on portions of FD or Embalming • 2nd year emphasis on whole events • Spread out over years 1 & 2 • 3 types of Reports • Common Event Reports– for common areas of FD & Embalming – 4 areas, 6 per area • FD Event Reports– specific to FD – 5 areas, 6 per area • Embalming Case Studies– specific to embalming – 6 each year • Final practical exams conducted for embalming

15. Event Reports • Recommended that you spread your Event Reports out over the two years of your apprenticeship, completing all no later than the end of April of your final year • A couple of areas are distinctly split into Level 1 and Level 2 • - e.g. FD Business Practices & Embalming Restorative Arts

16. Event Report Preparation • To prepare use the Preparation checklist sheets in Log Book to guide you • 1 printed, rest on flash drive • When ready to complete Event or Case Study, arrange a time with your mentor • Easy to use – just check-off, date and sign as indicated

17. Sample Preparation Checklist

18. Event Report Form

19. Peer Verification • Your Mentor not always available to train and observe you • Your licensed peers/fellow colleagues may assist with training and observe you do tasks in certain areas • They verify you have done them competently by completing a Peer Verification Sheet • Only used if Mentor not able to observe

20. Example of Peer Verification Sheet

21. Evidence Register Basics • Evidence Register Binder • Considered part of Log Book • Instructions for use in Log Book • Evidence Register List at front of binder – use to assign reference numbers • Handy checklist provided in front of binder to track mandatory evidence collection • Clear plastic pockets for storing evidence

22. Evidence Register Sample

23. Evidence types • Two types of evidence that you must collect over the course of your apprenticeship: • Mandatory evidence - a specified number of pieces of certain types of evidence (detailed in Log Book), and • Discretionary evidence – appropriate evidence of your choice that can support your work experience. You may collect as much discretionary evidence as you like.

24. In Summary - 4 Simple Steps • Step 1 • Complete Daily Journal • Complete Work Experience Summary Report – every 4 months • Step 2 • Complete Funeral Service Arrangement and/or Embalming Declaration form(s) • Step 3 • Complete Event Reports & Case Studies • Use preparation checklists to prepare • Use checklist to track • Step 4 • Collect evidence – record & place in binder • Use checklist to track mandatory evidence

25. Checklists Provided • Checklists provided to help you track progress • Mandatory Evidence checklist • Event Report/Case Study checklist • Preparation checklists for Event Reports/Case Studies • Help you determine if ready to do

26. Mandatory Evidence Checklist

27. The Mentor’s Role • Guide and train you • Hands-on training • Advice • Ensure ready to complete assigned tasks/events – provide further instruction & guidance when not • Sign-off that you have completed work and/or hours required • Should provide an appropriate degree of challenge & support (emotional, technical & informational) so that you, the apprentice, can build the competence & confidence to solve your own problems

28. Understanding the Mentor’s role: • A mentor plays an essential role in: • Understanding how to implement funeral service practical skills to support your learning as a student • Developing learning experiences in which you use funeral services practical skills within the context of the provincial curriculum • They should create a climate that is relaxed, trusting, mutually respectful, informal, collaborative & supportive

29. Determining Competence • Your Mentor must be satisfied you (the apprentice) can complete a task: • repeatedly • initially with assistance, without assistance by program completion or sooner • according to regulatory requirements • according to the assessment/event guidelines • to best industry practice • within acceptable industry timeframes

30. Determining Competency cont’d… • Mentor will be looking for: • Consistency – making sure all related pieces of evidence say the same thing – contract #s, dates, etc. • Authenticity – checking that the evidence produced is from you, the apprentice • Relevance – making sure the evidence produced is current & meets the industry agreed standards • Sufficiency –making sure there is enough evidence to meet the requirements of the competency standards as outlined in the assessment documents 

31. Process for Mentor • Train and guide you, then: • Observe you doing specified tasks in Event Report/Case Study • Check off that you have done them competently • If not yet competent suggest and guide you through further training • Verify and sign reports such as: Work Experience Summary, Event Reports, & Funeral Directing and/or Embalming Declarations • Before in-class sessions, review your Log Book & Evidence Binder with you to ensure up-to-date & accurate, & that all necessary reports are completed

32. The Assessment Coordinator’s Role • Review Log Book including Daily Journal & Evidence Binder to assess progress at in-school sessions & workplace visits • Evaluate the evidence using the assessment guides & make an assessment decision and give feedback to the apprentice • Coach apprentices & mentors on process • Advocate with Mentor on behalf of Apprentice if needed – i.e. need more balanced work experience • Complete assessment documentation as required by the Industry Training Authority (ITA)

33. Any questions?

34. Good Luck Class of 2012!