Functional Capacity Assessments (FCA)

At Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health, we provide Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs) to help understand how a person’s functional abilities, support needs and daily challenges impact their participation at home, school, work and in the community.

An FCA is a comprehensive assessment and report that may include:

• a functional interview and clinical observation

• review of available background information and reports

• relevant standardised assessment tools (where appropriate)

• stakeholder liaison (e.g., family/carers, support team, school, providers)

• a written report aligned to the person’s goals, barriers and support needs
  
  

Our FCAs are person-centred, practical and evidence-based, with recommendations designed to inform support planning and service provision.

What is an FCA used for?

An FCA may be used to help clarify:

• current functional strengths and challenges

• how a person manages daily activities and routines

• support needs across different environments

• areas where additional supports, therapy or equipment may be required

• clinical recommendations to assist with planning and review processes
  
  

Indicative FCA timeframes (pricing is time-based)

FCA pricing is time-based. The number of hours required depends on the complexity of the assessment, the amount of background information available, and the scope of reporting required.

Very Basic FCA (summary-style / limited scope)

Approx. 6–8 hours + travel

May be suitable when:

• presenting issues are clear and relatively stable

• there are limited stakeholders involved

• minimal standardised testing is required

• recent, relevant collateral information is already available

• a brief, targeted report is required (e.g., one main domain/purpose)
  
  

Standard FCA (most common)

Approx. 14–16 hours + travel

May be suitable when:

• there are functional impacts across multiple domains (e.g., daily living, mobility, community access, regulation)

• some standardised assessment tools are required

• there is a moderate amount of background information to review

• multiple stakeholders are involved (e.g., carers, support coordinator, school, treating team)
  
  

Complex FCA (high needs / multi-source / urgent or contested evidence)

Approx. 16–20+ hours + travel (sometimes more)

More likely when:

• presentation is complex (e.g., psychosocial, behavioural, cognitive or high support needs)

• multiple diagnoses or complex environments are involved

• significant document review is required

• multiple interviews/consults are needed

• multiple standardised tools and interpretation are required

• submissions or reviews are time-sensitive (where clinically appropriate and capacity allows)
  
  

Why FCA hours vary

No two FCAs are the same. Some are relatively straightforward, while others require significant assessment, liaison and reporting time.

Common factors that affect time include:

• Background information available (quality and amount of medical/therapy/school/support records)

• Number of environments involved (e.g., home only vs home + school + community)

• Stakeholder coordination (family, carers, support workers, school, GP, treating team, support coordinator)

• Assessment complexity (communication, cognition, behaviour/regulation, mobility, safety/risk, comorbidities)

• Standardised assessment tools required (selection, administration, scoring and interpretation)

• Report scope (brief targeted evidence vs comprehensive multi-domain FCA)

• Participant tolerance for assessment (e.g., fatigue, need for more than one appointment)
  
  

What is typically included in an FCA?

Every FCA will vary, but most include:

• functional history, goals, current supports and barriers

• observation of function (where feasible)

• identification of functional impacts across relevant domains

• clinical rationale linking functional limitations to support needs

• recommendations to inform support planning and service provision

Additional components that may be required (depending on complexity)

Some FCA matters may also require:

• a second, third... or multiple appointments (e.g. due to fatigue/tolerance or to complete testing)

• school, workplace or community consultation/observation

• multiple caregiver/support worker interviews

• additional document review as new records become available

• risk-related considerations (e.g., falls, manual handling, behavioural risk)

• screening components related to AT/home modifications (where clinically relevant)

• fast-tracked turnaround (if clinically appropriate and capacity allows)
  
  

Our process

We will usually provide an initial estimate following intake, and confirm the likely scope after the first appointment once we understand the person’s presentation, available information and reporting requirements.

This helps ensure the assessment is fit for purpose and aligned with the person’s goals and available funding.

Not sure if you need a full FCA or more targeted evidence?

If you’re unsure whether a full FCA is required, or whether a more targeted functional assessment/report may be appropriate, contact our team and we can help guide you to the most suitable next step.