Peer Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Houston, TX

14d • Onsite

About The Position

The Peer Specialist works in the Mental Health Care Line at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas. This role may only be filled by a Veteran who meets the statutory requirements and has a full, current, unrestricted peer specialist certification. The Peer Specialist serves as a member of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation treatment team, using personal recovery experience to provide therapeutic and practical support to Veterans pursuing recovery and personal wellness. The position is part of a multi-grade career ladder, with potential promotion to the full performance level when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met; selection at a lower grade does not guarantee promotion.

The position is not virtual. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., subject to change based on agency needs. Work is primarily sedentary and may take place at the medical center, in group or family homes, community-based outpatient settings, community organizations, or transport vehicles. Work areas may be noisy, irregular, unpredictable, and stressful. The employee may occasionally use VA-approved behavioral management techniques with Veterans who pose a danger to themselves or others.

Applicants must meet the statutory Veteran and recovery requirements, hold a qualifying peer specialist certification, and meet the grade-specific experience or education qualifications for GS-6 through GS-9. The job also requires basic written and spoken English proficiency, a current valid state-issued driver's license, and required background and onboarding checks. A one-year probationary period or two-year trial period applies as specified in the announcement.

Requirements

• Must be a Veteran who has recovered or is recovering from a mental health condition, as defined in the announcement.
• Must have at least one year of recovery from a mental health condition, including mental illness and/or substance use disorder.
• Must hold a full, current, and unrestricted peer specialist certification from a qualifying state or not-for-profit peer specialist training entity.
• Must meet grade-specific qualifications for GS-6 through GS-9: generally one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade involving peer support in mental health or addiction recovery, or the specified directly related graduate education substitution.
• Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Must have a current, valid state-issued driver's license.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements if currently or formerly covered by the stated Federal employment provisions.
• Must undergo a background/security investigation and complete required online onboarding and pre-employment identification requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a VA health care personnel requirement.
• Must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties, with occasional moderate physical demands, and exercise patience and emotional control; reasonable accommodation may apply.
• Must be able to work flexibly in settings that may be noisy, irregular, unpredictable, and stressful, and may involve occasional use of VA-approved behavioral management techniques.
• Must provide copies of DD-214 and peer specialist certification with the application; transcripts are required when education is used to qualify.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the service, training, consultation, and other professional activities of VA health care services as a fully vested 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 teach Veterans to identify and counter negative self-talk and overcome fears by providing a forum for sharing experiences.
• Handle crisis interventions and other emergent situations as necessary, including situations without specific instructions.
• Inform Veterans about VA and community supports and resources and how to use them effectively in recovery and wellness.
• Maintain knowledge of current developments in holistic approaches to wellness and recovery through relevant reading and other materials.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package available to eligible employees and their families; specific eligibility depends on position type.
• VA may approve credit for qualifying 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