Peer Apprentice

Veterans Health Administration • Saginaw, MI

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This time-limited, entry-level position is intended for a Veteran who is developing the skills needed to become a certified Peer Specialist. The apprentice learns under close supervision from a licensed independent provider or a non-licensed provider working under a licensed independent provider, and receives ongoing instruction from the supervisor or designee. The position requires active pursuit of certification through a State- or VA-approved contract vendor. After completing the certification process, the required year of specialized experience, and time-in-grade requirements, the employee may be eligible for a permanent Peer Specialist position.

The Peer Support Apprentice is an interdisciplinary team member in a rehabilitation treatment program. The role provides information and peer support to Veterans in outpatient, inpatient, and/or community settings, drawing on the apprentice’s own recovery experience to model coping strategies and self-help tools. The apprentice supports Veterans with recovery and wellness goals, skill development, treatment participation, progress monitoring, self-advocacy, independence, and self-directed recovery. The work is grounded in recovery, wellness, resiliency, self-determination, personal responsibility, and empowerment, and supports Veterans with mental illnesses, co-occurring disorders, chronic illnesses, or injuries.

The position follows a Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. schedule. Telework is not authorized, and the position is not virtual. Work may take place at a medical center, group or family homes, community-based outpatient settings, community organizations, or in public or government transport vehicles. The work is primarily sedentary, though occasional walking, standing, bending, carrying light items, and accessing transportation may be required. Work areas may be noisy, irregular, unpredictable, and stressful.

Requirements

• Must be a Veteran as defined in the posting and meet the statutory requirements for the position.
• Must have spent at least one year in recovery from a mental health condition, including mental illness and/or substance use disorder.
• Must actively pursue certification as a Peer Specialist through a State- or VA-approved contract vendor, as required by law.
• Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Must provide a copy of DD-214 with the application package.
• Must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary work, with occasional moderate physical demands, and exercise patience and emotional control without endangering the health and safety of self or others, with reasonable accommodation if necessary.
• Must be able to work flexibly in settings that may be noisy, irregular, unpredictable, and stressful, and may require occasional use of VA-approved behavioral management techniques.
• Must meet the announcement’s eligibility conditions, including the specified applicant eligibility categories.
• Must complete required background/security investigation and online onboarding; participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Must meet the requirements for certification by the deadline established by the supervisor; failure to do so may result in removal from the occupation and may result in termination of employment.

Responsibilities

• Participate in VA health care service, training, consultation, and other professional activities as a member of the multidisciplinary team.
• Use personal recovery experiences to model coping techniques and recovery tools, and coach Veterans in skills for managing their health conditions and pursuing personal wellness.
• Observe behaviors that may indicate difficulty adapting or responding to treatment, document observations, and report concerns to the treatment team promptly.
• Use individual and group meetings to help Veterans identify and combat negative self-talk and overcome fears by providing a forum for sharing experiences.
• Address crises and other emergent situations through immediate consultation with the supervisor or the most available clinical provider.
• Maintain knowledge of current trends and developments in holistic approaches to wellness and recovery by reading relevant materials.
• Assist Veterans in articulating recovery and personal wellness goals, learning and practicing skills, monitoring progress, participating in treatment, and advocating for effective services.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific eligibility depends on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• Newly appointed federal employees may request credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual; approval is not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed