How does an Occupational Therapist (OT) complete an FCA?

An OT will undertake a functional capacity assessment over one or two face-to-face sessions in the client’s home.

The OT will gather information using a combination of informal interview with the client and their support network, clinical observations of function, and standardized assessments.

An FCA will investigate the impairments resulting from disability and how these impact on your physical, sensory, cognitive and behavioural function, and on your communication.

An FCA will evaluate your functional performance across a range of functional domains, including mobility, transfers, self-care tasks, domestic activities, sleep and rest, community access and social interactions, and work or study.

The OT will also gather information about your daily and weekly routines and the existing formal and informal supports you have in place and whether or not these are meeting your support needs.

Where challenges and barriers to your participation are identified, your OT will work with you to identify what supports may assist to increase your independence and participation.

Following completion of the assessment, the OT will compile a comprehensive Functional Capacity Report detailing your functional performance across all domains and outlining recommendations for supports to facilitate safety, independence and participation.