What is a NDIS functional capacity assessment?
A functional capacity assessment also known as an FCA for short is an assessment provided by an occupational therapist (OT).
This assessment looks at how well a participant / person is able to do their daily tasks at home, work or out in the community.
The reason for having a functional assessment is to outline the needs and goals of a person taking into consideration of what they current can do or cannot do.
For tasks that a person can do by themselves this is easy, for tasks that cannot be done without support, the occupational therapist helps to determine and outline what funding will be required and comes up with strategies in order to help the person achieve these goals.
These assessments and reports allow the occupational therapist to provide an overall picture of what is required for the person for them to go about living their daily life with appropriate support and their care needs being met. The functional assessment looks to provide an assessment where a report is delivered outlining the funding requirements with a goal of increasing the independence of a person.
This report is then provided to the NDIS for what is called the plan review (or reassessment) where they take this evidence into consideration and provide funding for various services if they deem them to be 'reasonable and necessary'.
Will the functional capacity assessment be a new report?
Yes, all functional capacity assessments (FCA's) will be new reports.
Why does the occupational therapist ask me, or other people involved in my care, questions for additional information or reports?
Functional capacity assessments provide a snapshot in time as to how a person is going. This is delivering a report that is outlined as a narrative expressing simplistically the persons story and painting a picture of their level of function over time.
Additional questions and information is asked for in order to gain better clarity and understanding for the occupational therapist so they're able to express a clearer view as to whether a person's function is staying the same, improving or declining. As such, further information may be asked of the participant, support workers, family members and others involved in their care.
This is important as funding is directly related to what is 'reasonable and necessary' and if sufficient evidence isn't provided for the proposed support then it may not be funded by the NDIS or other funding bodies.
Conscious Healthcare SA or CHSA is an NDIS registered company that can provide functional capacity assessments (FCA) for their participants, among other services, as required.
We are a company that provides quality in-home allied health services and has a team of qualified therapists to ensure you or a person you may be working with is looked after.
If you'd like to find out more about us at CHSA please visit here: https://conscioushealthcaresa.com.au/who-we-are
How will this be booked in and what will happen?
The process will extremely simple:
- A referral is made to CHSA through the support coordinator, a participant or a participant's representative
- CHSA will call the referrer and ask some more questions about the person requiring the FCA and book the appointments in with the best contact given to us
- The CHSA therapist will attend the appointment after it's booked in which will go for roughly 2-2.5 hours for each participant
- This will take place via:
a. in person appointments (face to face) only
OR
b. Mixed telehealth - A mixture of face to face along with a practitioner virtually called Mixed Telehealth.
Click here for further information about Mixed Telehealth
Note: Opting for this option will ensure you're able to receive a service sooner and subsequently have the necessary evidence you need for funding in your hands sooner too. - The CHSA therapist will deliver a functional capacity assessment (FCA) to the participant / their authorised signatory along with the NDIS or other providers, as per the privacy form which will be signed.
What is involved in the assessment?
A functional assessment is usually performed within the home of an individual.
Initially this will involve confirming background information about the participant or person to understand more about their life and then how they perform everyday tasks will be observed in their own living space.
An example of functional tasks could include from dressing, personal hygiene or meal preparation for example.
Throughout the assessment the occupational therapist will take notes and this allows them to get a better picture of what supports and services the person may need. Other information that is collected is things like age and medical conditions and what a typical week may look like for a participant or person.
The report takes into consideration as to if the person is able to do a tasks independently or with support, such an activity could be meal preparation for example.
The participants social history is explored along with other areas such as:
- Cognition – understanding & communicating
- Mobility – moving & getting around
- Self-care – hygiene, dressing, eating & staying alone
- Getting along – interacting with other people
- Life activities – domestic responsibilities, leisure, work & school, money management
- Participation – joining in community activities
Initially questions will be asked about a particular task such as mobility and how well you move around. Following this a practical assessment of such as task will be conducted to determine how easy or hard the activity is deemed to be by the occupational therapist.
Once the assessment is completed the occupational therapist will continue to make further notes on the day.
In the following weeks, the occupational therapist will follow up any information needed with doctors or other necessary support providers or carers.
Finally, the occupational therapist will produce a report that will recommend what is required for:
- Ongoing support such as support workers
- Therapy support - i.e. physiotherapy, dietitian or occupational therapy
- Assistive technology - i.e. technological devices or wheel chairs
- Home modifications - if this is included in the referral and deemed necessary
What is SIL or supported independent living?
SIL is shorthand for a term in the NDIS called Supported Independent Living.
Supported Independent Living (SIL) is one type of help or supervision with daily tasks to help you live as independently as possible, while building your skills.
SIL is the paid personal supports. It includes things like having a person to help with personal care tasks, or cooking meals. SIL can help build these skills too, so you can be more independent SIL happens in your home.
You can get SIL if you live in a home with other people. You can also get SIL if you live on your own, but there might be other Personal Care Supports that suit you better.
SIL funding doesn’t include things like rent or other day-to-day expenses like groceries.
SIL is best suited for participants who have high support needs, and require a significant amount of assistance throughout the day.
If SIL is the most appropriate support for you, you will receive funding for this assistance as part of your NDIS plan.
The amount of funding provided will depend on the level of support you require to live independently in the housing option of your choice.
Note: This is directly referenced from the NDIS website.
For further information please visit:
- https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/home-and-living/supported-independent-living-participants
- https://www.ndis.gov.au/media/2565/download#:~:text=Supported%20Independent%20Living%20(SIL)%20is,care%20tasks%2C%20or%20cooking%20meals.
What is SDA or Specialist Disability Accommodation?
Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) is a range of housing designed for people with extreme functional impairment or very high needs.
It aims to make accessing supports easier.
SDA usually involves a shared home with a small number of other people.
You might also be able to live in SDA by yourself if that option best meets your needs and circumstances.
SDA funding includes the cost of the home or building you live in. Usually, you'll still need to pay rent or other personal costs to live in SDA.
It doesn’t include the services or support you might get in your home.
Note: This is directly referenced from the NDIS website.
For further information please visit: