Peer Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Phoenix, AZ

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Peer Specialist is an interdisciplinary team member in a rehabilitation treatment program, assisting physicians and other professional and non-professional personnel. The role uses the specialist’s personal recovery experience to help Veterans articulate recovery and wellness goals, learn and practice skills, monitor progress, participate in treatment, use effective coping and self-help strategies, and advocate for effective services. The position is restricted to Veterans who meet the statutory requirements described in the qualifications section and hold a full, current, unrestricted peer specialist certification.

The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and is not virtual. It is a multi-grade career ladder position; promotion to the full-performance level may occur without further competition when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade does not guarantee promotion. Relocation and recruitment incentives, as well as permanent change of station, are not authorized.

The work is primarily light and sedentary, with occasional moderate physical demands. It may involve sitting, walking, standing, bending, carrying light items, and accessing transportation. Work takes place in settings including a medical center, group or family homes, community-based outpatient settings, community organizations, and transport vehicles. Work areas may be noisy, irregular, unpredictable, and stressful, and may require occasional use of VA-approved behavioral management techniques with Veterans who present a danger to themselves or others.

If selected, applicants should be prepared to onboard within 30 days after the announcement closes. The hiring process includes expedited application review, possible interviews and reference requests, and timely completion of pre-employment requirements such as fingerprinting, background checks, credentialing, and a medical examination.

Requirements

• Must be a Veteran who has recovered or is recovering from a mental health condition, as defined by the statutory requirements in the posting.
• 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 not-for-profit training entity or state.
• Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Must meet the specialized experience or directly related graduate education requirements for the applicable GS grade (GS-6 through GS-9). Specialized experience requirements include at least one year at the next lower grade in relevant peer recovery mentoring, recovery advocacy, psychiatric therapy aide work, or equivalent in-person support experience.
• Current or former federal applicants covered by time-in-grade rules must meet the applicable 52-week requirement for the grade sought.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen and complete all required application steps, including an online assessment.
• Must provide copies of DD-214 and peer specialist certification with the application; transcripts are required when relying on education to qualify.
• Must meet applicable background/security investigation, onboarding, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary work with occasional moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary.

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 experience 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 appropriately and report concerns to the treatment team in a timely manner.
• Use individual and group meetings to teach Veterans to identify and combat negative self-talk and overcome fears, 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 trends and developments in holistic approaches to wellness and recovery by reading relevant materials.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• Potential credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual, subject to prior request and approval.

What This Job Offers

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