Peer Specialist

Veterans Health Administration • Wilkes Barre, PA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Peer Specialist is an interdisciplinary team member who assists psychologists and other professional and non-professional personnel in a residential mental health rehabilitation treatment program. The role may only be filled by a Veteran who meets the statutory requirements described in the qualifications section.

Peer Specialists use their personal recovery experiences to support Veterans in articulating recovery and personal-wellness goals, learning and practicing new skills, monitoring progress, participating in treatment, and advocating for effective services. They model coping techniques and self-help strategies, coach Veterans in managing health conditions, and provide information about VA and community resources.

The position includes individual and group meetings, observing and reporting behaviors that may indicate difficulty adapting or responding to treatment, documenting observations, and addressing crises or other emergent situations. The specialist maintains knowledge of current developments in holistic wellness and recovery approaches. The work is primarily sedentary, with occasional light and moderate physical demands.

Requirements

• Must be a Veteran as defined in the announcement: a person who served in active military, naval, or air service and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• For GS-7, one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade involving post-personal mental health recovery experience as a mentor, recovery advocate, psychiatric therapy aide, or equivalent work involving in-person communication to support others in mental health recovery; alternatively, successful completion of one full year of directly related graduate education.
• Current or former Federal employees applying under applicable circumstances must meet the GS-7 time-in-grade requirement of 52 weeks at GS-6.
• Must meet the listed competencies: Communications, Conflict Management, Customer Service (Clerical/Technical), Interpersonal Skills, and Technical Competence.
• Selected applicants are subject to pre-employment drug testing for testing-designated positions, background/security investigation, and required onboarding.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a Department of Veterans Affairs health care personnel employee.
• Must serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasional moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodations if necessary, without endangering health or safety.

Responsibilities

• Participate in VA health care service, training, consultation, and other professional activities as a fully vested member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Use personal recovery experiences to model coping techniques and recovery tools, and coach Veterans in skills for self-managing health conditions and pursuing personal wellness.
• Observe behaviors that may indicate difficulty adapting or responding to treatment, complete appropriate documentation, 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 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, including how to use them effectively in recovery and wellness.
• Maintain working knowledge of current trends and developments in holistic wellness and recovery approaches by reading relevant materials.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees earn annual leave at a rate based on years of federal service; selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• A comprehensive federal employee benefits package is available to eligible employees and their families.

What This Job Offers

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