Occupational Therapist in Elizabeth, New Jersey at RWJBarnabas Health

Job Title: Occupational Therapist

Location: NEW POINT CAMPUS

Department Name: Adult Psych (AP)

Req #: 0000246786

Status: Salaried

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $72.10 - $72.10 per year

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated annual salary range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

Job Overview:

The Per Diem Occupational Therapist provides skilled clinical services to patients within an inpatient behavioral health setting. This role evaluates functional, cognitive, and psychosocial needs to implement therapeutic interventions that support stabilization, coping, and safe discharge planning. Working collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team, the therapist facilitates both individual and group treatments to ensure the highest standards of psychiatric patient care.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Current Occupational Therapist License in the State of New Jersey
• Registration by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy
• CPR/BLS Certification (or willingness to obtain immediately upon hire)
• Availability to work weekends, holidays, and provide coverage for staff absences

Preferred:

• Minimum of 1 year of specialized experience in a psychiatric healthcare setting

Scheduling Requirements

• Per Diem (Day)

Essential Functions:

• Conduct occupational screenings and initial evaluations on inpatient psychiatric units within 72 hours of admission.
• Perform comprehensive assessments of patient functioning utilizing structured interviews, task observations, and standardized tools (such as ACLS, COPM, MoCA, and Interest Checklists).
• Design, implement, and update tailored occupational therapy treatment plans based on ongoing patient responses and evaluations.
• Lead therapeutic groups focused on life skills, coping strategies, stress management, emotion regulation, and self-care/ADLs.
• Document and maintain up-to-date clinical records, progress notes, assessments, and discharge summaries in compliance with regulatory standards.
• Participate actively in interdisciplinary treatment planning meetings, staff huddles, and daily morning reports.
• Report critical behavioral or physical changes in a patient's condition immediately to the Director and Charge Nurse.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits and Perks:

At RWJBarnabas Health, our employees are at the heart of everything we do. Driven by our Total Wellbeing promise, our market-competitive offerings include comprehensive benefits and resources to support our employees’ physical, emotional, financial, personal, career, and community wellbeing. These benefits and resources include, but are not limited to:

• Paid Time Off including Vacation, Holidays, and Sick Time
• Retirement Plans
• Medical and Prescription Drug Insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Disability and Life Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Student Loan Planning Support
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Wellness Programs
• Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Pet Insurance)
• Community and Volunteer Opportunities
• Discounts Through our Partners such as NJ Devils, NJ PAC, and Verizon
• ….and more!

Choosing RWJBarnabas Health!

RWJBarnabas Health is the premier health care destination providing patient-centered, high-quality academic medicine in a compassionate and equitable manner, while delivering a best-in-class work experience to every member of the team. We honor and appreciate the privilege of creating and sustaining healthier communities, one person and one community at a time. As the leading academic health system in New Jersey, we advance innovative strategies in high-quality patient care, education, and research to address both the clinical and social determinants of health.

RWJBarnabas Health aims to truly make a unique impact in local communities throughout New Jersey. From vastly improving the health of local residents to creating educational and career opportunities, this combination greatly benefits the state. We understand the growing and evolving needs of residents in New Jersey—whether that be enhancing the coordination for treating complex health conditions or improving community health through local programs and education.