Functional Capacity Assessments
Functional Capacity Assessments (FCA)
A Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) is an assessment that is completed by one our professionally trained and experienced Occupational Therapists, and provides a detailed understanding of how a person functions in daily life. It identifies strengths, challenges, and the level of support needed to promote independence and participation.
We offer assessments for children and adults, using standardised tools and observations in the person’s home, school, or community environment (where possible and feasible). We can complete in-person or via telehealth if you are unable to come to one of our clinics (Balcatta, South Lake and Kalgoorlie).
Each FCA includes a comprehensive report outlining functional abilities, support needs, and evidence-based recommendations, and are used to help the NDIS work out appropriate therapy, daily supports and NDIS funding, in order for participants to achieve their goals.
Under the NDIS, a Functional Capacity Assessment is often used to support eligibility applications, plan reviews, and decisions about reasonable and necessary supports, including therapy, assistive technology, living arrangement, support worker hours etc.
Our experienced Occupational Therapists will work with you to provide tailored, person-centred assessments to help individuals achieve meaningful goals and improve everyday outcomes.
How does an FCA work?
There are three main components to an FCA.
Initial Appointment – This appointment is conducted face-to-face in our clinic and takes approximately 1.5 hours.
Home / School Assessment – The next stage of the FCA is a home/school-based assessment at the client’s address. This stage takes between 1.5 and 2 hours.
Report Writing – The last stage of the FCA is the writing of a report. The clinician will conduct this independently and may gather further information as is necessary.
The three components of the FCA add up to 10 hours of clinical work, which includes travel to the client’s home and/or school. Due to the nature of the three stages of an FCA, these assessments are usually be completed over a number of days.
What happens in an FCA?
During the Initial Assessment, the clinician will conduct an interview with you to gather information regarding the client including their:
Skills
Strengths
Challenges
Then there will be a series of daily living activities to help identify concerns or challenges regarding different aspects of capabilities. There will also be some questions related to sensory items, fine motor and gross motor skills, and social skills.
The Home Assessment will include an investigation of the home environment including reviews of the following non-exhaustive list:
- Transfers
- Mobility
- Upper/lower body dressing
- Bathing
- Toileting
- Money management
- Meal preparation
- Cognition
The clinician will seek to identify what level of assistance may be required for participation in daily activities. This component will also include a more hands-on Functional Review of various daily activities.
Further assessment may be clinically required where standardized measures of functional limitations can be identified. If any further clinical assessment is needed, at a client’s school for example, this will be identified during this stage.
How much does an FCA cost?
The clinician will seek to identify what level of assistance may be required for participation in daily activities. This component will also include a more hands-on Functional Review of various daily activities.
Further assessment may be clinically required where standardized measures of functional limitations can be identified. If any further clinical assessment is needed, at a client’s school for example, this will be identified during this stage.
When will I receive the report?
Full and comprehensive reports are completed between 6 and 8 weeks from the date of the initial session. This timeframe is in line with industry standards and is designed to allow the clinician sufficient time to gather, collate, analyse and consider all of the necessary information. Once finalised, the report is then sent to the client.
Want to find out more about the Functional Capacity Assessment process?
If you have more questions, please make sure to give our team a call on (08) 9344 1318.
A member of our administrative team will be more than happy to help; for clinical/complex enquiries we will arrange for the occupational therapist to contact you directly.
Book Functional Capacity Assessments By Giving Us A Call Today
For more information about functional capacity assessments or to book your child in, please have a read of our blogs or get in touch today.
Other Health Services
One Central Health provides multidisciplinary allied health services including counselling services WA wide. Our professionally trained and highly experienced psychologists provide Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessments for clients of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
Our allied health team provides Learning Assessments for a variety of Specific Learning Disorders. If you are concerned that your child might have a learning disorder, we recommend booking in for a full assessment.
