There is no single timeframe for every occupational therapy assessment or report. A focused equipment or home safety question may be relatively contained, while a Functional Capacity Assessment, complex Assistive Technology assessment or Home and Living report may involve several information sources and stages.

At a glance

Key points

  • 01Timing depends on the referral question, complexity and information required.
  • 02Assessment time and report-writing time are separate parts of the service.
  • 03Tell the service about important dates at referral, before accepting a booking.

What affects the timeframe?

The amount of work may be affected by the type of assessment, the person’s communication and fatigue needs, travel, the number of environments involved, existing evidence and whether other people need to contribute.

  • Availability of the person and relevant supporters
  • Records that need to be reviewed or requested
  • Observation across home, community, work or study
  • Equipment supplier appointments or trials
  • Measurements, quotes or input from other professionals
  • The length and purpose of the requested report

What are the usual stages?

The process commonly includes referral review, clarification of scope, consent and information gathering, assessment, clinical analysis, recommendations and any agreed report. Complex work may also involve trials, follow-up questions or liaison with other professionals.

A report cannot always be completed immediately after the appointment because the therapist may need to review evidence and explain the clinical reasoning clearly.

What if I have a deadline?

Include the exact date and what the document is needed for when making the referral. The service can then consider whether the timeframe is realistic before work starts.

An urgent deadline does not always make a thorough assessment possible. It is better to clarify this early than assume a report can be produced by a particular date.

Sources and further reading

Official guidance may change. Check the linked source for the most current information.