Functional Capacity and Cognitive Evaluation (FCCE)

Referrals come from insurers, insurance brokers, occupational health providers and employers. Typical cases involve an individual whose physical and cognitive function together is reported as the main barrier to returning to work or performing daily activities.

FCCEs are also used to test an individual's capabilities against TPD policy definitions, including activities of daily living, activities of daily work and loss of independence. The assessment can stand alone or form part of a wider return-to-work programme through vocational rehabilitation.

On referral, we review the requirements internally to confirm the right format for the case. The FCCE is a face-to-face assessment, and its length depends on the pace at which the individual works through the tests and the demands of the job in question. Where a longer assessment would be more prudent, we discuss this with you before the assessment goes ahead.

The assessment uses a standardised test battery covering areas such as mobility, dexterity, strength, endurance and agility, selected to match the purpose of the referral. For an FCCE, the individual also completes a set of computerised cognitive tests, using CNSVS.

Every assessment is conducted by a trained functional assessor. Our physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses and osteopaths all specialise in working with people whose conditions affect their ability to work or manage daily living.

You receive a report with clear conclusions on whether the individual can, in their present state of health, return to their own or an alternative suited role, or perform activities of daily living, depending on the nature of the referral. It identifies barriers to employment and, where appropriate, sets out work-focussed recommendations for further rehabilitation and for reasonable adaptations or modifications in the workplace.

The report also gives detailed conclusions on the individual's reliability of performance, symptom reporting and overall effort during testing. If a rehabilitation programme follows, the results provide a baseline for tracking progress.