Client-centred assessments for a full understanding of each person, their capacity and the services and supports that are right for them
Functional Capacity Evaluation
A Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) is an objective measure of an individual’s ability to perform pre-defined daily living and (where appropriate) work-specific functional tasks.
It is a valuable tool in determining an individual’s physical capacity and level of independence. It can also assist in ascertaining readiness to return to work or to graduate their return to work program, as well as to evaluate if a worker is performing to their maximum level in a role.
All FCE’s are tailored to the specific needs of the individual, but typically include the following:
- Push/pull
- Lift/carry
- Overhead and forward reach
- Gripping, handling
- Walking, stepping, crawling
- Standing, sitting, bending
The FCE is conducted by a qualified and experience Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist.
Vocational Assessment
IPAR may conduct a Vocational Assessment to identify suitable alternate vocational options for injured individuals who are unable or unlikely to return to their pre-injury employment.
The assessment includes:
- Thorough assessment of work history, education, training and transferable skills
- Formal psychological testing if required
- Review of the individual’s interests and preferences
- Training or retraining requirements to the extent that it is required to obtain employment
- Treater liaison to confirm capacity and job suitability
- Detailed labour market analysis
Vocational Assessments are conducted by qualified and experienced Occupational Therapists, Rehabilitation Counsellors, Psychologists or Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists. The assessment can be conducted face to face, via telephone or web conferencing, or as a desktop assessment.
Pre-Employment Assessment
This is the evaluation of a potential employee against known parameters of the role they have applied for. It assists the recruitment process by identifying the applicant’s physical suitability for the role, and identifies those who may be at risk of injury, or aggravation of a pre-existing injury.
The assessment can include:
- A comprehensive medical history review
- Blood pressure testing
- Visual, Audiometric (hearing) and Dynamometry (strength) testing
- Range of motion assessment
- Musculoskeletal functional assessment (strength and endurance testing)
- Drug and alcohol testing
Labour Market Analysis
A labour market analysis can provide essential information to ensure that a reasonable and achievable job goal is set. The assessment includes:
- Live employer contacts
- Exploring online vacancies advertised in open labour market
- Obtaining salary / wage information
- Analysing job prospects and industry employment trends
- Determining retraining or education/qualification needs for employment options
Labour market research is usually conducted via telephone or online search by qualified and experienced Occupational Therapists, Rehabilitation Counsellors, Psychologists or Vocational Rehabilitation Specialists.
Job Task Analysis / Worksite Assessments
A job task analysis (or physical demands assessment) involves detailed examination and breakdown of the skills and physical demands specific to a particular task or duties that make up an employment option.
Job Task Analyses can be completed through conducting a worksite assessment (with a specific employer) or reviewing the usual duties of a certain occupation. Photographs of job tasks can be provided with consent from Employers.
The assessment is conducted by a qualified and experienced Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist or Exercise Physiologist.
Positivum™ biopsychosocial assessment
Positivum™ is an online assessment that measures a client’s beliefs and perceptions around health and work. It was developed by IPAR in conjunction with Monash University, to provide insights into the biopsychosocial factors impacting a client’s condition.
Using the Positivum™ assessment findings, our consultants formulate a tailored plan aimed at addressing the biopsychosocial factors and assisting the individual to either gain employment or achieve a successful return to work. This may include a health coaching program which is tailored to provide the knowledge and strategies necessary to meet the individual client’s needs. The health coaching program is the result of extensive research and rehabilitation practice, and is built upon the therapies of behaviour change and principles of adult learning.
Ergonomic Assessment
Ergonomic assessment ensures that an individual’s work area and workflow are suitable for the individual and the tasks they have to perform. By evaluating factors such as reach, repetition, duration, weight, grip, lighting and temperature, we can understand how the human body interacts with the environment and complete any adjustment to ensure that risk or injury is mitigated. Ergonomic assessment can relate to both office settings and industrial environments.
Earning Capacity Assessment (ECA)
In the relevant jurisdictions, IPAR conducts an Earning Capacity Assessment (ECA) to identify roles that take into consideration all elements of the definition of suitable employment and seek to establish the nature of the individual’s incapacity and their current functional abilities. The assessment includes investigation of the injured individual’s medical, functional, vocational, rehabilitative and claims management history. Information is sourced from as many objective measures of the individual’s current capacity as possible.
We also investigate information relating to the worker’s pre-injury employment to ensure that the suitable employment options identified take into account the nature of their pre-injury role. Next, we look to establish the historical and current vocational components of the workers’ status; to establish their education, skills and work experience as well as demographic information such as their age and place of residence.
