Fitness for Duty Evaluations
A fitness for duty evaluation (FFDE) is a formal psychological examination ordered by the department due to concerns that an employee may be unable to safely or effectively perform a defined job due to objective evidence, for which the cause may be attributable to a psychological condition or impairment. With these evaluations, the agency is the client of record, the employee is the subject of record, and the psychologist is the examiner of record. As psychological consultants, it is our responsibility and duty to advise agencies on the necessary procedures and considerations when referring an employee to a FFDE.
A FFDE consists of a review of all collateral information provided by the agency, including documented observations, events, and concerns leading to the request for evaluation. Additionally, on the day of evaluation, the employee is administered a battery of standardized objective testing that assess psychological and personality functioning and participate in an in-depth interview regarding the employee’s background history, including legal, work, medical, and mental health history. In some cases, individuals may be required to provide copies of relevant medical records or facilitate communication between treatment providers and the examiner. Upon completion of the evaluation, a comprehensive report summarizing the findings of the evaluation will be submitted to the designated individual within the agency.
Our evaluation practices conform to the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA). Additionally, the evaluations are performed in accordance with the Psychological Fitness-for-Duty Evaluation Guidelines published by the IACP Police Psychological Services Section and the APA Professional Practice Guidelines for Occupationally Mandated Psychological Evaluations (2018)
LEPCA is available to discuss the FFDE process, consult about specific cases being considered for referral, or provide further clarification.
Helpful Resources:
International Association of Chiefs of Police Fitness-for-Duty Evaluation Guidelines