The FCA interview is a discussion about your activities, the help you use and the questions the report needs to answer. At Seeds, it usually takes about an hour, after the OT has reviewed the information supplied beforehand.
The interview is one part of the assessment. Document review, suitable measures and report writing happen outside that appointment time.
At the start
The OT should confirm who is present, the purpose of the appointment and how information will be used. This is also the time to check communication arrangements and any concerns about privacy.
The session is recorded so the OT can listen rather than type. Tell Seeds beforehand when recording is a concern so the available options can be discussed.
The questions
Questions usually concern activities that are relevant to the assessment: getting ready, managing a home, organising appointments, communicating or taking part outside the home. The OT may ask you to describe a particular occasion to understand the steps involved.
They will also ask about what helps. A reminder, a familiar route or another person's assistance may explain why an activity goes well. That information needs to remain part of the account.
Where your form and another report differ, the OT may ask for clarification. The difference could reflect a change over time, a different setting or a misunderstanding. It should not automatically be treated as evidence that one account is unreliable.
Using notes or a support person
You can prepare notes about what you want to cover. You do not need to answer from memory to demonstrate that your account is genuine.
A support person may help you communicate or provide their own observations, with appropriate consent. The OT needs to distinguish the different sources. Let them know when you would prefer to answer a question yourself or when another communication method would work better.
Describing changes over time
The appointment may fall on a better or more difficult day. Explain whether it is representative and describe the longer pattern when it matters. Include the help you receive, how frequently difficulties occur and any time needed to recover after an activity.
You do not need to attempt something unsafe or remove your usual assistance for the interview. Tell the OT when a suggested activity is not suitable.
At the end
Ask whether anything important remains unclear and what happens next. Confirm the expected report date and how to contact the practice.
If you later remember something that may affect the findings, explain what it is and when it occurred. The practice needs to consider its relevance and whether additional work is required; a later arrival alone should not make important information unusable.