Your comprehensive guide to NDIS functional capacity assessments

A Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA) is an important tool in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). While it's not mandatory for your application, it can be a helpful document to help NDIS planners understand your support needs and allocate the right funding to help you achieve your goals.

In this guide, we will walk you through what a Functional Capacity Assessment is, why it's so important, what to expect during the process, and how it can help you live a more independent life.

What is a functional capacity assessment?

A Functional Capacity Assessment is a detailed evaluation of your ability to perform daily activities at home, at work, at school, and in the community.

It is typically conducted by a qualified Occupational Therapist (OT) or another specialised allied health professional.

The assessment provides a clear picture of your strengths and challenges, and how your disability impacts your everyday life.

The assessment is designed to look at six areas of functionality:

• Communication: Your ability to communicate your needs and understand others.
• Learning: Your capacity to learn new skills and information.
• Mobility: How you move around your home and community.
• Self-care: Your ability to manage your personal hygiene, dressing, and eating.
• Self-management: How you handle daily tasks like managing money, appointments, and household chores.
• Social interaction: Your capacity to build and maintain relationships and participate in social activities.

To be eligible for NDIS funding, the participant must have a permanent impairment that substantially reduces their ability to undertake the above-mentioned activities.

Why is a Functional Capacity Assessment important for your NDIS plan?

While a Functional Capacity Assessment isn't required for every NDIS plan, it can be a useful piece of evidence to help secure funding.

• Justifying funding: The detailed FCA report can provide evidence to justify requests for specific supports, therapies, or assistive technologies. It gives NDIS planners a clear view of your support needs.
• Tailored support: The assessment shows how your disability affects your daily functioning. This allows NDIS planners to create a plan that is tailored to your individual needs.
• A clearer picture: An FCA can provide a holistic overview of your abilities, which is useful if your current supports are no longer meeting your needs or if your circumstances have changed.
• Resolving disputes: The evidence-based nature of an FCA report can help if there is a dispute about the level of funding in your plan.

What's the difference between a Functional Capacity Assessment and an Occupational Therapy Assessment?

Becuase an FCA is often completed by an occupational therapist (or OT), it can often get confused with a general Occupational Therapy assessment. However, the two assessments have different purposes..

• An FCA is a comprehensive and broad assessment of your overall functional abilities. It's designed to take stock of your current levels of functioning and put that into a detailed report that is used to inform your NDIS plan.
• A general OT Assessment is more focused on a specific goal, such as a mobility assessment to determine the need for a wheelchair, or a home modification assessment. Once completed, it's used to deliver therapies to help you achieve that goal.

There is some overlap, of course. A Functional Capacity Assessment can inform an OT assessment, for example.

What is "substantially reduced functional capacity"?

"Substantially reduced functional capacity" means a significant limitation to a person's ability to perform daily tasks, participate in activities, or engage in life without assistive technology, equipment, or support from others.

Your impairment is considered to significantly reduce your functional capacity if you typically require disability-specific supports to participate in any of the six areas of functionality listed above.

How can I get a Functional Capacity Assessment?

You can demonstrate your need for NDIS funding without undergoing a Functional Capacity Assessment, which may be too expensive for some applicants. In this case, you can provide a support letter from a health professional that outlines your specific support needs.

However, if you require or would like to get an FCA, you can request it either before or after you have been granted NDIS funding.

The Functional Capacity Assessment process

The FCA process is designed to be both thorough and collaborative. While it can vary depending on your needs, a typical assessment usually follows these steps:

1. Initial meeting: The OT will meet with you to discuss your NDIS goals, your current supports, and your daily routine. This can take place at your home, a clinic, or a combination of both.
2. Information gathering: The OT will collect information from various sources. This includes observing you as you perform daily tasks, asking questions about your routine, and potentially speaking with your family, carers, and other healthcare professionals (with your consent).
3. Practical assessment: The OT will conduct a practical assessment of your abilities. This may involve assessing your mobility, how you perform household tasks, or your communication skills. The OT is there to observe and understand your challenges, not to judge.
4. Report writing: After the assessment, the OT will use their observations and data to write a comprehensive report. This is the most time-consuming part of the process, and it's where your OT will detail their findings and provide recommendations.
5. Review and finalisation: The report is often reviewed for quality and accuracy before it is finalised and sent to you. The final report is yours to share with your NDIS planner.

The entire process can take up to 10 hours, spread across multiple sessions, depending on the complexity of your situation.

What is evaluated during functional capacity assessments?

This will depend on your specific situation and the evidence you submit in your application.

Let's say you have a disability that significantly impacts your ability to move, but your cognitive abilities are intact. In such a case, the NDIA might not need to assess your cognitive-related daily activities. The assessment report will likely contain the following elements:

• Use of toilet facilities
• Eating/feeding habits
• Dressing, maintaining personal hygiene, and grooming
• Showering routine
• Use of mobility aids and transitions

The assessment will probably also include your social context, such as your ability to manage:

• Laundry/cleaning tasks
• Home maintenance activities
• Managing finances and budgeting
• Using the telephone
• Navigating travel and transportation
• Shopping
• Preparing meals and cooking

Who can perform a functional capacity assessment?

Functional Capacity Assessments are generally conducted by Occupational Therapists (OTs) or other specialised healthcare experts. When looking for an OT to carry out your Functional Capacity Assessment, a referral from your general practitioner could be helpful. This is because they should already be familiar with your requirements and can suggest a suitable professional for you.

However, a referral from a general practitioner isn't a prerequisite to seeing an OT for a Functional Capacity Assessment. Alternatively, you have the option to locate an OT yourself. It's important to note that not all OTs specialise in Functional Capacity Assessments, so it's vital to choose an OT with expertise in this field.

How long does a functional capacity assessment take?

A full functional capacity assessment can take up to 10 hours and is typically conducted over multiple sessions. The duration depends on the complexity of the individual's situation and the funding allocated for the assessment in their NDIS plan. The assessment can take place in various settings such as the individual's home, a clinic, or through remote means such as phone or video chat.

Understanding the Functional Capacity Assessment

There is no official template for an FCA report, but most will contain the same key components. This is what you can expect to find in the final document:

• Executive summary: A brief overview of the assessment's findings and key recommendations.
• Background information: Details about your medical and developmental history, as well as your current support network.
• Assessment findings: A detailed breakdown of your functional capacity in the six key areas (communication, learning, mobility, self-care, self-management, and social interaction). This section will provide specific examples and observations.
• Recommendations: The most important section for your NDIS plan. This will include recommendations for specific supports, therapies, assistive technology, and home modifications, all tied back to how they will help you achieve your NDIS goals.
• Conclusion: A summary of the report and its implications for your NDIS plan.

After you get your NDIS funding

Whether you've undergone a Functional Capacity Assessment or not, securing NDIS funding is a significant step towards independence and achieving your community access goals.

Once you've been granted NDIS funding, you're not alone in this journey. At Like Family, we’re here to offer our support. We're dedicated to helping you work towards your goals via social and community support.

Connect with us today to learn more about our disability support services.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)