Peer Recovery Support Specialist

Ascension Recovery Services•Morgantown, WV

17h•Onsite

About The Position

Wise Path Recovery Centers, operated by Ascension Recovery Services, is hiring a Peer Recovery Support Specialist for its Camp Baer location in the Morgantown/Westover area of West Virginia. The specialist provides non-clinical, recovery-focused support to individuals receiving substance use disorder treatment, drawing on appropriate lived experience to offer hope, mentorship, accountability, and practical support. The role works alongside clinical, medical, case management, and recovery support professionals to help patients develop recovery goals, overcome barriers, build recovery skills and community connections, and stay engaged in treatment. The position is part of the opening team at a new treatment center and contributes to a supportive, multidisciplinary environment centered on kindness, teamwork, empathy, integrity, excellence, and recovery. The specialist maintains professional and ethical boundaries, protects patient confidentiality, documents services, communicates patient needs and safety concerns to appropriate team members, and participates in training, supervision, competency assessments, and professional development. The role requires maintaining applicable West Virginia peer recovery credentials. Work takes place primarily in a behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment facility and involves regular interaction with patients who may be experiencing emotional distress, behavioral health symptoms, or early-recovery challenges. The schedule may include evenings, weekends, holidays, or other shifts according to patient and facility needs. Competitive hourly compensation is based on experience, qualifications, certification, and internal equity.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Personal lived experience with substance use disorder and recovery consistent with West Virginia Peer Recovery Support Specialist requirements.
Current and active West Virginia Peer Recovery Support Specialist certification, or ability to obtain required certification before independently providing PRSS services; certification must remain active and in good standing throughout employment.
Ability to complete required facility orientation, competency, compliance, confidentiality, and safety training.
Ability to successfully complete required background screening and pre-employment requirements.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Basic computer skills and ability to complete electronic documentation.
Passion for helping others achieve and maintain recovery.
Ability to share appropriate aspects of personal recovery experience when therapeutically helpful.
Ability to establish strong relationships while maintaining clear professional boundaries.
Compassionate, dependable, and emotionally grounded approach.
Ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds and recovery pathways.
Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary behavioral health team and communicate concerns appropriately without working outside the scope of the peer role.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, residential treatment, recovery housing, community recovery services, or a related setting.

Responsibilities

Build supportive, professional relationships with patients based on trust, respect, shared experience, and recovery principles.
Use appropriate lived experience to provide encouragement, hope, mentorship, and practical recovery support.
Help patients identify personal recovery goals and strengthen their recovery capital.
Assist patients in identifying and overcoming barriers that may interfere with sustained recovery.
Help patients develop recovery skills, healthy routines, coping strategies, and community connections.
Connect patients with mutual-support meetings, peer networks, community resources, and other recovery-oriented services.
Support patients in developing a strong recovery community before transitioning from treatment.
Reinforce treatment goals and encourage continued engagement in clinical and recovery services.
Collaborate with clinical staff, case managers, medical staff, BHTs, and other members of the interdisciplinary treatment team.
Participate in treatment team meetings and communicate relevant patient needs or concerns to appropriate team members.
Complete required documentation accurately and in a timely manner in accordance with organizational and regulatory requirements.
Maintain appropriate professional and ethical boundaries with patients.
Maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, organizational policies, and applicable state and federal requirements.
Recognize and promptly communicate safety concerns, relapse risks, behavioral changes, or other concerns to the appropriate clinical or supervisory team member.
Participate in required training, supervision, competency assessments, and professional development.
Maintain all required Peer Recovery Support Specialist credentials throughout employment.
Perform other duties related to peer recovery support and patient care as assigned.