Choose an FCA provider by asking four things: who will conduct the appointment and who will write and take responsibility for the report; which methods they will use and what telehealth can and cannot answer; what the written scope and fee include; and when the report will arrive and how corrections are handled. Before any of that, be clear about what the reports you already have do not answer.
A new full assessment may be appropriate, but it is not automatically the next step whenever a plan changes or a decision is questioned. Ask the person requesting evidence to explain the gap and any requirements for the report.
Ask about the assessor and the assessment
Find out who will conduct the appointment, who will write the report and who takes responsibility for its conclusions. Ask about experience relevant to the assessment question, rather than relying only on a job title or a general claim of expertise.
Discuss the proposed methods. Will the assessment use interview, observation, existing records or particular measures? When telehealth is proposed, ask which questions it can answer and which may need an in-person or specialist assessment.
Your communication and access needs belong in this conversation. Explain any difficulty with long interviews, online forms, phone calls or video. Ask what adjustments are available and whether they affect the agreed scope or cost.
Ask for a written scope and fee
The quote or agreement should make it possible to understand what you are purchasing. Check whether it includes preparation, document review, the appointment, scoring where relevant and report writing.
Also ask what happens when the provider needs more information or time. Additional work should be discussed before it is undertaken. A low advertised price is difficult to compare with another quote when the inclusions differ.
For an NDIS-funded assessment, confirm that the service and proposed claim are appropriate for your plan. A provider's acceptance of plan-managed or self-managed participants is not a guarantee that a particular invoice can be paid from your funding.
Ask about the finished report
An example can show how a provider presents information. Check whether it is fictional or drawn from a real case with appropriate protections. A sample cannot demonstrate that another person's recommendations will be suitable for you.
Ask when the report is expected, how it will be delivered and who will receive it. Make any external deadline clear before booking. Clarify the process for questions, factual corrections and relevant new evidence after delivery.
Be cautious about outcome promises
No private assessor can guarantee NDIS funding or a DSP decision. A recommendation should be based on the assessment, not on a promised budget or a predetermined number of hours.
Choose a service that can explain its methods and limits, give you an understandable agreement and answer the questions relevant to your situation. A provider should be able to tell you when a different service would be more suitable.