Per Diem Occupational Therapist
Listed compensation
$40–$50 /hr
The week · per this posting
Schedule not stated in this posting — no days, weekends, call or nights given.
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
There For You Home Care Services is seeking per diem Occupational Therapists (in the New Haven, Branford, and Valley areas) to join our home care team and support patients in achieving greater independence in their daily lives.
This is an excellent opportunity for an OT who values flexibility and meaningful one-on-one patient relationships. Per diem scheduling allows clinicians to take visits on a day-rate basis that fits around their availability, making it well suited to therapists seeking supplemental work or a better work-life balance.
We are looking for candidates who are dependable, thorough in documentation and compliance, and genuinely committed to helping patients thrive in the comfort of their own homes.
Clinical Assessment & Planning
- Conduct initial and ongoing OT evaluations in the patient's home, assessing functional status, ADLs/IADLs, cognition, fine motor skills, and home safety
- Develop, implement, and update an individualized plan of care (POC) with measurable, functional goals
- Contribute to OASIS data collection where the OT is the qualifying or assessing discipline
Direct Patient Care
- Provide skilled therapeutic interventions to improve independence in daily activities (dressing, bathing, grooming, meal prep, etc.)
- Train patients in adaptive techniques and energy conservation
- Recommend, fit, and train patients on adaptive equipment and durable medical equipment (DME)
- Perform home safety and fall-risk assessments, recommending environmental modifications
Education & Coordination
- Educate patients, families, and caregivers on therapy techniques, safety, and home exercise programs
- Coordinate care with the interdisciplinary team (nursing, PT, SLP, aides, physician) and communicate changes in patient status
- Make recommendations for continued care, discharge planning, or referrals
- Documentation & compliance
- Complete timely, accurate visit notes, progress notes, recertifications, and discharge summaries
- Ensure documentation supports medical necessity and meets Medicare/payer and agency standards
- Adhere to the POC, physician orders, and state practice/licensure requirements
Requirements
- Proven working experience as occupational therapist
- Excellent knowledge of principles and practices of occupational therapy
- Hands-on experience with computer programs and creative media
Familiarity with ADLs evaluation tools ( e. g. Katz ADL scale, Lawton IADL scale)
- Ability to manage patients with different types of personalities
- Current knowledge of treatment practices per discipline and drive to learn continually and grow in the profession
- Professional behavior
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills
- Valid license to practice Occupational Therapy
- BS degree or greater in Occupational Therapy
Compensation
- $80.00 - $100.00 per visit
- Mileage Reimbursement
- Pay: $40.00 - $50.00 per hour
Benefits
Mileage reimbursement
Medical Specialty
Home Health
Education
Master's (Preferred)
Experience
Home care: 1 year (Preferred)
License/Certification
- Occupational Therapy License (Required)
- Work Location: On the road
Key Responsibilities
Conduct initial and ongoing occupational therapy evaluations in patients' homes to develop individualized plans of care. Provide skilled therapeutic interventions and educate patients and caregivers on adaptive techniques and home safety.
Qualifications
- Education
- Bachelor degree
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Occupational Therapist Career Context
In New York, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$94k (347 salary observations; 1,014 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (5,562 salary observations; 29,543 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.
The cost-of-living index for New York is 107.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 64.6% of New York clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 7.2 / 10 · top 10% in occupational therapy | ranked against 9,043 Occupational Therapy listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| New York vs national | $94k median in New York | $97k nationally (−3%)347 state / 5,562 national salary observations |
| Cost of living | New York index 107.9 | US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Occupational Therapy listings in New York | 363 active | 9,039 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 42% no call · 63% no weekends43 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | New York occupational therapist listings (all specialties): 7% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 7% offer loan repayment405 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Occupational Therapy listings | 3,212 in the last 30 days | 1,658 the 30 days before (+94%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Occupational Therapy pay trend | +3.8% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Per Diem Occupational Therapist at Universa Care a 7.2 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as very good. This places the position in the top 10% in Occupational Therapy — ranked against 9,043 active Occupational Therapy listings on WeekdayDoc.
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