Peer Recovery Support Specialist – Return to Work
About The Position
Ascension Recovery Services is hiring six Peer Recovery Support Specialists to provide recovery-focused support to individuals working toward meaningful, sustainable employment through its Return-to-Work Program. Each specialist is assigned a primary West Virginia service region and regularly travels throughout that region to meet participants, connect with community partners and recovery resources, and support Return-to-Work activities. Candidates may identify their preferred region or regions during the application process. This is a peer support role, not a clinical treatment position. Specialists work alongside Return-to-Work Liaisons and other program team members to help participants strengthen recovery supports, connect with resources, overcome barriers, and continue toward employment goals. They meet participants where they are, help them identify their own goals and strengths, and provide practical, recovery-oriented support while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries. The position is full-time, hourly, and non-exempt. It is field-based in West Virginia and requires regular local and regional travel throughout the assigned service area. The regions include North Central West Virginia (Monongalia and Marion Counties, including Morgantown and Fairmont); Southern West Virginia (Wyoming, Mercer, and Raleigh Counties, including Beckley, Bluefield, and Princeton); and Southwestern West Virginia (Mingo, Logan, McDowell, and Wayne Counties, including Wayne, Williamson, Welch, and Logan). Success includes building trust, connecting participants with appropriate resources, helping them navigate recovery and employment transitions, and contributing to employment retention outcomes at 30, 60, 90, and 180 days.
Requirements
- Meet applicable West Virginia requirements for Peer Recovery Support Specialists and any credentialing or certification required for the position.
- Understanding of recovery-oriented, person-centered, strengths-based, and trauma-informed approaches.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to establish trust while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
- Strong documentation and follow-through.
- Ability to recognize when a participant's needs require clinical or other professional intervention.
- Ability to work collaboratively with participants, Return-to-Work Liaisons, community organizations, recovery providers, and other Return-to-Work team members.
- Understanding of confidentiality and appropriate information sharing.
- Ability and willingness to travel regularly throughout the assigned West Virginia service region.
Nice To Haves
- Relevant peer recovery or recovery-support experience.
- Lived experience with recovery may be required or preferred, consistent with applicable certification requirements and organizational policy.
Responsibilities
- Build supportive, respectful relationships with participants using recovery-oriented, strengths-based, and person-centered approaches.
- Help participants identify recovery goals and understand how recovery stability can support successful employment.
- Encourage connection with peer support, recovery groups, community resources, and other appropriate recovery services.
- Provide encouragement, practical guidance, and recovery-focused problem-solving within the scope of the peer role.
- Help participants strengthen self-advocacy, confidence, and informed decision-making.
- Identify recovery-related barriers that may affect attendance, job readiness, workplace adjustment, or continued employment.
- Work with Return-to-Work Liaisons to develop practical strategies supporting recovery and employment responsibilities.
- Support participants during job searches, onboarding, workplace transitions, and post-placement follow-up.
- Help participants navigate transportation, housing, recovery meetings, community support, and other resources that may affect employment stability.
- Respond promptly when recovery challenges could put a participant's employment at risk and connect the participant with appropriate support.
- Facilitate warm handoffs to recovery organizations, peer resources, community programs, and other approved services.
- Help participants navigate access to clinical care when needed while maintaining appropriate boundaries between peer support and clinical treatment.
- Participate in team meetings and case consultations while maintaining participant confidentiality.
- Engage with community partners and other resources when appropriate and authorized.
- Document peer contacts, referrals, participant engagement, and follow-up accurately and promptly.
- Recognize and promptly escalate safety concerns or participant needs outside the scope of peer support.
- Complete required training, supervision, continuing education, and professional development.
- Travel regularly throughout the assigned West Virginia service region.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
No Education Listed
