Work Ability
FCE (Functional Capacity Evaluations)
‘A functional capacity evaluation (FCE) evaluates an individual’s capacity to perform work activities related to his or her participation in employment.’ (Soer et al., 2008). The FCE process compares the individual’s health status, cognitive ability, physical ability and body functions and the demands of the occupation and the work environment. A FCE’s primary purpose is to evaluate a person’s ability to participate in work . Although as Occupational Therapists, we also assess the activities of daily living such as home preparation, grooming, gardening, recreational activities, all the activities which are important to you as a person.
Who Can Benefit From an FCE?
- Someone who has been injured on duty to determine his or her ability to return to his/her occupation with or without accommodation or alternative occupation.
- Someone applying for Disability benefits or incapacity benefits.
- Someone seeking to return to work after an injury or illness.
- Someone who has sustained an amputation or other physical, cognitive, mental difficulites and wanting to return to work.
The FCE may be used to determine:
- Goals for cognitive and/or physical rehabilitation
- The clients ability to safely return to work (including full duty, duties with accomdations, gradual return to work or redeployment to another occupation)
- Work ability status for vocational rehabilitation
- Disability status
- Ability to meet job demands as part of a hiring process (pre-work/post-offer employment testing)
- Ability to meet the demands of other activities (Home tasks, gardening, social acitivites)
What can be expected on the day of your FCE:
An FCE assessment includes an interview to ensure we receive a holistic picture of the injury/illness and difficulties you are currently experiencing. The assessment may take 3 -4 hours as it includes functional testing relating to your injury/illness/diagnosis. The testing may include cognitive assessment, lifting, walking, stepping, balancing, pain monitoring as well and hand function.
A comprehensive report is compiled after the day of your assessment to describe the findings of the assessment. The report will provide recommendations to return to work, accommodations for the work place as well as rehabilitation/further treatment if needed. Reports preparation can take from 5 – 10 working days.
Referral and Payment for FCEs
People are generally referred for an FCE by a General Practitioners, Specialists (such as orthopaedic surgeons, neurologists, physicians) or Insurance representatives or the employer’s medical practitioners.
FCEs are paid for by the clients medical aid scheme, insurance companies, employers or by the client themselves
Work hardening / Vocational rehabilitation / Return to work
‘Work Hardening/Vocational Rehab is a “highly structured, goal-oriented and client centred treatment program designed by an Occupational Therapist to assist with returning a person back to work, may it be their current position, with or without accommodations or redeployed to an alternative position.’
Our work hardening/vocational rehab program may focus on physical work hardening, cognitive work hardening or a combination of the two.
As Occupational Therapists we may assist with/conduct the following:
- Conduct an interview with you to ensure we have a full and comprehensive understanding of your job requirements, duties and tasks.
- Conduct an assessment/Functional Capacity Evaluation to assist us in structuring goals for our program.
- Communicate with your employer (with your permission) to provide the employer with recommendations of reasonable accommodations or alternative work placement.
- Follow up and monitoring once you have returned to the work environment.
When will I return to work?
Unfortunately, this is a very simple question with a complex answer. Each case is individual, and the time needed for therapy before returning to work differs for each client. However, we as your Occupational Therapists, with the other medical practitioners which are part of your team as well as your employer will facilitate your return to work to ensure the process is a smooth as possible.
What we focus on in the program:
- Improving our clients physical strength and endurance
- Improving our clients cognitive abilities and cognitive endurance
- Pain management strategies
- Correct work practices, attitudes to work and job Behavior
- Stress management in the work place.
Treatment may include:
- Work simulations activities
- Strengthen the clients upper limbs and lower limbs
- Improving our clients cognitive abilities such as memory, concentration and executive functioning
- Improving our clients physical endurance with relation to a full days work
- Educating our clients on correct body mechanics and safe handling techniques
- Educating our clients on energy conservation and pain techniques
- Educating our clients on stress management and relaxation techniques
PGAP (Progressive Goal Attainment ProgramTM
The Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP) is standardized, evidence based intervention program which has been shown to benefit and to reduce disability associated with a wide range of debilitating health and mental health conditions such as Pain, PTSD, cancer, depression, musculoskeletal conditions as well as other chronic health conditions
The aim of the program is to facilitate normal day activities with the main goal of an individual returning to work. The program is structed to assist the client in setting goals and improving their function through a graded, step-by step guided activity program. The client attends a weekly session which is 45minutes to 1 hour long for a period of ten weeks.
PGAP helps assist clients with the following:
- Reduce emotional and/mental barriers which may be hindering your rehabilitation process.
- Graded return to life role activities
- Assist with returning to work
- Improving quality of life and in term preventing long term disability.