1. Taking Funeral Instructions from a Client
Funeral Administrator
Unit AD1

2. Learning Outcomes: The learner is able to:
Interview clients and obtain the necessary information to arrange a funeral
Describe additional services which may be required by a bereaved family
Arrange a burial or a cremation
Provide client with an itemised estimate and final invoice

3. Arrangement Forms – Information about the Deceased
Full Name
Address
Place of death
Date of death
Date of birth
Age
Status
Gender
uk/documents/factsheets/fs16_transgender_issue s_and_later_life_fcs.pdf
Occupation
Religion (if any)
Has cause of death certificate been signed
Has the death been referred to the Coroner

4. Arrangement Forms – Information about the Applicant
Name
Address
Telephone –landline and mobile
Relationship to deceased (no assumptions!)
Other contact telephone numbers

5. Arrangement Forms – Information about the Funeral
Service location(s)
If cremation – Where?
If Burial – Type of grave? New? Pre-purchased or faculty in place? Re-open?
Day and date
Time of service
Coffin/casket

6. Arrangement Forms – Information about the Funeral
Clergy/Celebrant
Hymns & Music
Cars
How many following cars
Where will the cars leave from
Time cars will arrive
Arrangements for handling floral tributes

7. Arrangement Forms – Additional Services
Death notice and/or obituary
Catering
Service sheets
Donations

8. Arrangement Forms – Additional Services
Viewing requirements
Disposal of cremated remains
Other requirements
Flags
Pipers/ Marching bands
Memorials

9. Arrangement Forms – About the Account
Who will pay
Method – cash/cheque/debit or credit card/BACS
Pre-paid funeral plan
Company policy
Deposit or full payment
Solicitor
Insurance policy
Department for Works & Pensions

10. About the Account Estimate
Always provide a full written estimate
Itemising the individual costs and break down between Funeral Director Costs and Third Party Disbursements
Some companies ask for a signed copy of this to be returned to them before the funeral

11. About the Account Funeral Director Costs
Costs associated with the service you are providing and are within your control:
Professional services
Provision of vehicles
Removal of deceased
Provision of coffin
Provision of cremated remains casket
Additional bearers

12. Account About Third Party Disbursements
Costs associated with the service you are not providing and have no control over:
Church/Minister fees
Crematorium/Cemetery fees
Doctors/Gravediggers fees
Floral tributes
Newspaper notices
Order of service
Catering
Bagpiper
N.B. No profit is made on these services

13. List the key elements required for a funeral
Learning Outcome 1 Interview clients and obtain the necessary information to arrange a funeral Evidence required:
List the key elements required for a funeral
Interview a client, gather information and obtain instructions for services required
Give information and advice to clients about product range
Accurately record details of the funeral order
Take orders for graves and memorials

14. Learning Outcome 2 Describe additional services which may be required by a bereaved family Evidence required:
Summarise where to access additional services locally and obtain prices

15. Funeral Management Book the clergy
Telephone call
Before funeral date fixed
Letter of confirmation
Sent by initially?
Followed up by post?
Check fees

16. Funeral Management Book the Cemetery or Crematorium
If not already done this is one of the first things to fix
Taking into account
Relatives wishes
Distance mourners will travel
Other commitments
Your company
Vicar
Venue
Other main players

17. Funeral Management Book the Gravedigger
The whole funeral may hinge on ON on their availability
Some churchyards have their own
Most borough cemeteries use council staff
Parish cemeteries usually don’t
Make sure you know who is responsible for arranging the gravedigger (the gravedigger’s fee may included in the interment fee)

18. Funeral Management Book the Organist
Don’t assume that the vicar will do it for a church service
Some crematoria make a separate arrangement
Make sure the venue has an organ before you book an organist!

19. Funeral Management Request Documents
From hospital
From GP
Notify Coroner’s officer
Do the relatives know about registration?
Will you have all the paperwork in time?

20. Funeral Management Book chapel viewing time
Your company may have a diary for chapel visits
Don’t be unrealistic with time
If your company uses a trade embalmer make sure they are available
Company policies about viewing
e.g. only embalmed or coffined bodies

21. Funeral Management Organise staff and fleet
This may be part of your job or left to others
Either way make sure what you are arranging is reasonable for time between funerals
Consider service and travel time before and after funeral

22. Funeral Management Arrange additional services
Newspaper announcement
Specialist vehicles
Service sheets
Flowers
Donations
Extra cars
Catering
Doves
Music

23. Funeral Management Have you arranged to receive…
CDs/music requests
Clothing
Items to be placed in coffin
Photos for order of service
Wording for press notices
Tribute cards for flowers

24. Funeral Management Have you sent…
Estimate to family
Confirmations to
Family
Minister
Organist
Gravedigger
Newspaper announcement to paper
Flower order to florist
Music choices to place of service

25. Funeral Management Have you…
Checked……
and double checked EVERYTHING!

26. Leaning Outcome 3 Arrange a burial or a cremation Evidence required:
Make all the arrangements with all the necessary agencies to enable a burial
Make all the arrangements with all the necessary agencies to enable a cremation

27. Identify the difference between FD’s cost and disbursements
Leaning Outcome 4 Provide client with itemised estimate and invoice Evidence required:
Identify the difference between FD’s cost and disbursements
Explain why we are obliged to provide an itemised estimate
Prepare a written itemised estimate and a final invoice

28. Any questions?