Return-to-Work Liaison – Workforce Development

Ascension Recovery Services•Morgantown, WV

About The Position

Ascension Recovery Services is seeking a Return-to-Work Liaison to support individuals navigating substance use disorder, recovery, health-related challenges, and barriers to employment. The liaison serves as the primary point of contact for assigned participants from initial referral through employment placement, stabilization, and long-term retention. The role involves identifying barriers to returning to work, developing individualized plans, connecting participants with resources, supporting employment transitions, and addressing challenges that could threaten employment. The position is based in West Virginia and is field-based, with frequent local and regional travel for participant meetings, employer engagement, community partner visits, and other program-related activities. Success is measured through participant engagement, timely planning and referrals, employment and vocational training placements, resolution of employment barriers, and employment retention at 30, 60, 90, and 180 days.

Requirements

Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
Excellent organization, documentation, and follow-through.
Ability to manage multiple participants, priorities, referrals, and follow-up needs.
Strong problem-solving skills and knowledge of community resources.
Ability to communicate professionally with participants, employers, providers, and community partners.
Understanding of confidentiality, consent, and appropriate information sharing.
Ability to work with participants in a respectful, person-centered, and recovery-oriented manner.
Ability and willingness to travel locally for participant meetings, employer engagement, and community partner visits.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor's degree in human services, social services, behavioral health, workforce development, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
Experience in case management, employment services, community outreach, recovery support, workforce development, or a related service field.
Experience working with individuals affected by substance use disorder or other barriers to employment.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for participants throughout their Return-to-Work journey.
Conduct timely outreach to new participants and explain available program services and supports.
Complete participant intake and coordinate required assessments and work-readiness screenings.
Identify employment barriers, participant needs and preferences, and potential risks to employment stability.
Develop individualized Return-to-Work plans based on participant goals, functional abilities, job requirements, and recovery or treatment needs.
Help participants navigate job searches, applications, interviews, onboarding, workplace expectations, and the transition back to employment.
Coordinate appropriate conversations regarding work restrictions, job modifications, and reasonable accommodations with authorized parties.
Connect participants with clinical, recovery, rehabilitation, wellness, and community resources based on identified needs.
Coordinate warm handoffs to outpatient care, medication-assisted treatment, psychiatric services, peer recovery support, recovery groups, and other approved resources when appropriate.
Help participants address practical barriers such as transportation, childcare, licensing, benefits navigation, and access to community resources.
Follow up on referrals to help ensure participants connect with recommended services.
Partner with Peer Recovery Support Specialists without duplicating services.
Maintain appropriate communication with participants, employers, and other authorized partners throughout the Return-to-Work process.
Respond quickly to emerging health, recovery, or workplace challenges that could put a participant's employment at risk.
Continue supporting participants after placement, identify barriers early, and coordinate solutions.
Track employment outcomes and support follow-up at 30, 60, 90, and 180 days.
Maintain timely, accurate, and complete participant documentation.
Participate in case reviews, quality improvement activities, and program performance reporting.