What is a Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA)?
What a Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) involves, when the NDIS requests one, and how our Kogarah-based OT team supports children, adolescents and adults.
Written by Ruth Goble, Occupational Therapist.
If the NDIS has asked you to complete a Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA), or you've come across the term and aren't sure what it means, here's what it involves. A Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) is a comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessment that looks at how a person manages everyday activities and participates in daily life.
Rather than focusing only on a diagnosis, an FCA explores how a person's strengths, challenges and environment affect their independence and participation at home, school, work and in the community.
The information gathered is used to develop practical recommendations and, where appropriate, support NDIS planning and funding decisions.
At Square One Therapy Hub in Kogarah, our OT team completes FCAs for children, adolescents and adults across the St George area and wider Sydney.
Why might an FCA be recommended?
The NDIS commonly requests an FCA when:
- A participant is applying for NDIS funding.
- A plan is due for review.
- Additional supports or funding are being requested.
- There has been a significant change in a person's functional abilities.
- Further evidence is required to support future planning.
Some people also choose to complete an FCA privately to better understand their strengths, identify areas requiring support and guide intervention planning.
What happens during an FCA?
Every assessment is individualised because no two people have the same goals or support needs.
For example:
- For an adult, the assessment may explore areas such as cooking, personal care, community access, work, home management and independent living skills.
- For a child, the focus may include play, self-care, school participation, emotional regulation, sensory processing, fine and gross motor skills, attention and social participation.
Our OTs also consider how a person's physical, sensory, cognitive and emotional needs shape everyday functioning.
How long does an FCA take?
An FCA usually includes:
- Initial interviews with the participant and family
- One or more assessment sessions
- Standardised assessments (where appropriate)
- Review of relevant reports
- Collaboration with other professionals
- A comprehensive written report
From the first session to the final report, the process typically takes 2–4 weeks, depending on the complexity of the person's needs.
What assessment tools might be used?
Our OTs choose assessment tools based on the person's age, goals and areas of difficulty. These may include:
- Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM)
- WHODAS 2.0
- Vineland-3
- Beery VMI
- BOT-3
- Sensory Profile
- PEDI-CAT
Clinical observation, interviews and functional tasks are equally important parts of the assessment.
What's the difference between an occupational therapy assessment and an FCA?
A standard occupational therapy assessment is usually done to understand a person's needs and guide therapy.
A Functional Capacity Assessment is much more thorough. It brings together clinical observation, standardised assessments, interviews and recommendations into a detailed report on how a person's functional abilities affect everyday life.
Why are FCAs becoming more common?
As the NDIS puts more weight on functional evidence rather than diagnosis alone, FCAs are now one of the main ways to show how a person's disability affects their daily life.
They also give families, schools and support coordinators practical strategies for helping the person do more day to day.
Book a Functional Capacity Assessment in Kogarah
To talk through whether an FCA is right for you or your child, get in touch with our OT team at Square One Therapy Hub in Kogarah. We complete FCAs for children, adolescents and adults across Kogarah, the St George area and wider Sydney — contact us to get started.
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