Early Intervention Physical Therapist - Per Diem - Middlesex and Somerset Counties

RWJBarnabas Health; Mountainside (NJ); On-site; USD 89,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

RWJBarnabas Health's Children’s Specialized Hospital seeks an Early Intervention Physical Therapist to deliver family-centered, home-based pediatric PT services across Middlesex and Somerset Counties. You will evaluate infants and toddlers, develop IFSPs with families, and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to promote motor development and functional participation in daily routines.

You will coach families, model therapy strategies for daily activities, and ensure high-quality

Qualifications

• Education: Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy program.
• Licensure: Current and unrestricted New Jersey Physical Therapist license; driver’s license required.
• Experience: Minimum of two years of pediatric experience with birth–five years.
• Skills: Knowledge of infant/toddler development, IFSP, evidence-based pediatric PT, documentation, collaboration, caregiver education.

Responsibilities

• Conduct developmental evaluations and ongoing assessments in children’s natural environments.
• Develop and update IFSPs with families and team members.
• Provide evidence-based PT interventions for gross motor skills, mobility, balance and strength.
• Coach families by modeling strategies to fit daily routines.
• Collaborate with OTs, SLPs, physicians, and other professionals for coordinated care.
• Travel throughout Middlesex and Somerset Counties to deliver home-based services.
• Document evaluations, progress notes, IFSPs and related records in compliance with policies.

Skills

Infant and toddler development

Gross motor assessment

Family-centered coaching

Developmental evaluation techniques

IFSP development

Pediatric PT interventions

NJ Birth to Three Standards

Clinical documentation

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Caregiver education

Education

Accredited Physical Therapy program (PT)

Job description

Job Title: Physical Therapist

Location: Mountainside (MTN)

Department Name: Early Intervention Grant

Req #: 0000271140

Status: Hourly

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $78.36 - $78.36 per hour

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated hourly wage 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.

Early Intervention Physical Therapist - Children's Specialized Hospital, RWJBarnabas Health

At Children's Specialized Hospital, part of RWJBarnabas Health, Early Intervention Physical Therapists play a vital role in helping infants and toddlers with developmental delays reach their fullest potential during the most critical years of growth. As a member of our Early Intervention team, you will partner with families and interdisciplinary professionals to provide family-centered, evidence‑based physical therapy services in children's natural environments, including homes and childcare settings. You will empower parents and caregivers through coaching, education, and modeling therapeutic strategies that can be incorporated into everyday routines, supporting each child's gross motor development, mobility, functional abilities, and overall participation. Joining Children's Specialized Hospital means becoming part of an organization committed to clinical excellence, innovation, and providing therapists with opportunities for professional growth while making a meaningful impact on children and families throughout New Jersey. This position will provide home‑based care throughout Middlesex and Somerset Counties.

A typical day for an Early Intervention Physical Therapist may include:

• Conducting comprehensive developmental evaluations and ongoing assessments in children's natural environments to identify developmental strengths, gross motor delays, functional needs, and appropriate intervention strategies.
• Developing, implementing, and updating Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) in collaboration with families, service coordinators, and interdisciplinary team members.
• Providing evidence‑based physical therapy interventions that support gross motor development, postural control, balance, coordination, mobility, strength, and functional movement skills.
• Coaching parents and caregivers by modeling therapeutic strategies that can be naturally incorporated into daily routines, play activities, and family interactions.
• Collaborating with occupational therapists, speech‑language pathologists, developmental interventionists, service coordinators, physicians, and other professionals to promote coordinated, family‑centered care.
• Utilizing the New Jersey Birth to Three Early Learning Standards to guide developmentally appropriate intervention planning and family education.
• Applying appropriate discipline‑specific assessment tools and checklists to evaluate gross motor development and determine individualized intervention needs.
• Identifying which therapeutic strategies require the specialized expertise of a licensed Physical Therapist and which strategies can be implemented by other appropriately trained members of the Early Intervention team.
• Participating in multidisciplinary discussions regarding child progress, intervention effectiveness, ongoing service recommendations, transition planning, and discharge as children prepare for preschool or other community services.
• Completing timely and accurate documentation, including evaluations, session notes, progress reports, IFSP documentation, service records, billing records, and other required clinical documentation in accordance with Children's Specialized Hospital policies and New Jersey Early Intervention Program requirements.
• Maintaining ongoing communication with families, supervisors, service coordinators, and team members through email, telephone, and other communication platforms.
• Participating in continuing education, mandatory training, staff meetings, conference calls, and professional development opportunities while maintaining clinical competencies.
• Assisting in the education and mentoring of colleagues, graduate students, and interdisciplinary team members regarding Early Intervention philosophy and evidence‑based pediatric intervention practices.
• Meeting productivity expectations while delivering exceptional, family‑centered care with professionalism, compassion, and clinical excellence.
• Traveling throughout assigned service areas to provide physical therapy services in homes, childcare centers, and other natural environments.

This role might be for you if:

• You are passionate about helping infants and toddlers develop gross motor skills, achieve developmental milestones, and improve functional mobility through meaningful, family‑centered physical therapy.
• You enjoy coaching parents and caregivers and empowering families to support their child's development through everyday activities and routines.
• You thrive working independently in community settings while collaborating with an interdisciplinary team.
• You value building strong relationships with families and supporting them throughout their Early Intervention journey.
• You communicate effectively with caregivers, service coordinators, physicians, educators, and other healthcare professionals.
• You are organized, adaptable, and able to independently manage a flexible, community‑based caseload.
• You enjoy developing creative, evidence‑based intervention strategies that improve children's movement, functional abilities, and participation in daily activities.
• You are committed to lifelong learning, professional growth, and providing exceptional pediatric physical therapy services.
• You value compassion, collaboration, and making a lasting difference during a child's earliest years of development.

To Be Considered:

To be considered for this opportunity, you must meet the following criteria:

• Education: Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy program.
• Licensure: Current and unrestricted New Jersey Physical Therapist license issued by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. Temporary licensure approved under applicable New Jersey Department of Health Early Intervention personnel standards may be considered. A valid New Jersey driver's license is required.
• Experience: Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with young children with disabilities or developmental delays. Physical Therapists performing developmental evaluations must have at least two (2) years of pediatric experience working with and evaluating children from birth through age five.
• Skills: Demonstrated knowledge of infant and toddler development, gross motor assessment and intervention, family‑centered coaching practices, developmental evaluation techniques, Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) development, evidence‑based pediatric physical therapy interventions, New Jersey Birth to Three Early Learning Standards, clinical documentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and caregiver education.
• Requirements: Valid New Jersey driver's license, reliable personal transportation, and required automobile insurance, with the ability to travel throughout assigned service areas.
• Schedule: Ability to work a per diem schedule and travel daily to homes, childcare centers, and other natural environments throughout the assigned territory.

RWJBarnabas Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer