Functional Capacity Assessments
Simply Engage Occupational Therapy provides Functional Capacity Assessments to help explain how a person manages everyday life, what support they need and what may help them work towards their goals.
We assess daily living skills, safety, routines, participation, mobility, cognition, home tasks, community access and the support needed to make life more manageable.
A Functional Capacity Assessment, often called an FCA, is an occupational therapy assessment that looks at how a person completes everyday activities and what gets in the way.
Your OT considers the person’s goals, current supports, health conditions, disability-related needs, routines, environment and day-to-day challenges.
The aim is to provide a clear report that explains functional ability, support needs and practical recommendations in language that is easy to understand.
A diagnosis can help explain part of the picture, but it does not show how someone manages showering, cooking, transport, appointments, study, work, social connection or home tasks.
An FCA looks at what happens in real life and what support may improve safety, independence and participation.
Ask our team whether a Functional Capacity Assessment may suit your situation.
A Functional Capacity Assessment helps show what the person can do, what they need help with and why certain supports may be needed.
We keep the process practical, respectful and focused on daily life, safety, goals and meaningful participation.
Each assessment is tailored to the person, their goals, their disability-related needs and the reason the report is being requested.
Review of diagnosis, disability history, living situation, goals, current supports and key concerns raised by the person or their support network.
Assessment of self-care, domestic tasks, communication, mobility, learning, social participation, safety and community access.
Use of clinical observations and, where suitable, standardised tools such as WHODAS 2.0 or the Allen Cognitive Level Screen.
Review of real tasks such as meal preparation, hygiene, shopping, routines, volunteering, transport or managing appointments.
Clear information about paid supports, informal supports, family input, carer strain and what may happen when support is not available.
Practical recommendations linked to goals, daily function, safety, participation and Reasonable and Necessary support needs.
An FCA looks across the activities and routines that matter most to daily life.
The assessment may include discussion, observation, task breakdowns, risk review and input from family members, support workers or other professionals where relevant.
Someone may appear independent in a short conversation but struggle with planning, fatigue, decision-making, safety, task completion or community access.
The FCA helps explain these barriers clearly, using examples from real routines and everyday tasks.
This makes recommendations easier for participants, families, support coordinators and NDIS planners to understand.
Where suitable, your OT may recommend aids, adaptive equipment, safety supports, home setup changes or allied health input.
This may include low-risk equipment, mobility supports, bathroom safety items, daily living aids, prompting tools or referrals for other assessments.
A good recommendation should connect back to what the person wants to do and what support they need to do it safely.
Your FCA report may comment on support workers, therapy needs, transport, respite, support coordination, plan management, equipment, home safety or skill-building supports.
Recommendations are written to explain why the support may be needed, how it relates to function and how it may help the person work towards their goals.
We keep the assessment process clear so everyone understands what information is needed and what happens next.
Tell us why the FCA is needed, what has changed and what questions the report needs to answer.
We review relevant plans, reports, routines, support information and input from the person’s network.
Your OT meets with the person and their supports to assess function, risks, strengths and goals.
We consider daily function, support needs, informal support limits, safety and goal-related barriers.
You receive a written OT report with findings and recommendations in clear, practical language.
A Functional Capacity Assessment can support planning, review meetings and decisions about reasonable daily supports.
Simply Engage OT provides occupational therapy assessment, recommendations and reporting.
We cannot guarantee NDIS decisions or funding outcomes.
Our role is to provide clear clinical information about function, support needs, risks and practical recommendations.
A Functional Capacity Assessment may suit people who need updated evidence for an NDIS plan review, changes to daily support, new goals or changes in health, safety, living situation or informal support.
It may also help when families, support coordinators or providers need a clearer picture of what is working, what is not working and what supports may be needed next.
Simply Engage OT provides occupational therapy across key Queensland service areas, with mobile visits, clinic appointments and telehealth options where suitable.
Send through a referral or contact our team. You do not need to have everything worked out before getting started. Tell us what is difficult, what has changed and what support questions need answering.
Common questions before getting started.
A Functional Capacity Assessment is an occupational therapy assessment that looks at how a person manages everyday activities, what supports they currently use and what may help them improve safety, independence and participation.
Yes. An FCA can provide written evidence about daily function, support needs, risks and recommendations that may assist with NDIS planning or review discussions.
Your OT will gather background information, speak with the person and relevant supports, assess daily living function and review areas such as self-care, home tasks, mobility, safety, community access and goals.
Where suitable, we may use standardised tools such as WHODAS 2.0 or the Allen Cognitive Level Screen, along with clinical observations and functional task analysis.
Where clinically appropriate, the report can explain the type of support needed, when support may be needed and the functional reasons behind those recommendations.
Yes. Input from family, carers, support workers, support coordinators or other professionals can help provide a clearer picture of daily function, risks and informal support limits.
Yes. If equipment or technology may improve safety, independence or daily function, your OT can include suitable recommendations or suggest further assessment where needed.
No. We provide occupational therapy assessment and reporting. Funding decisions are made by the NDIS. Our role is to provide clear clinical evidence and practical recommendations.
Tell us what is difficult, unsafe, taking too much energy or no longer manageable. We can help work through the next step.
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