Peer Specialist

Veterans Health Administration•Ann Arbor, MI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Peer Specialist works as an interdisciplinary team member in the Substance Use Disorders Outpatient and Intensive Outpatient programs, assisting physicians and other personnel in a rehabilitation treatment program. Using personal recovery experience, the specialist supports Veterans in setting recovery and wellness goals, learning and practicing new skills, monitoring progress, participating in treatment, using effective coping and self-help strategies, and advocating for effective services. The position is restricted to Veterans who meet the statutory and certification requirements described in the posting. This is an onsite, permanent position with a Monday–Friday schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is not virtual. The position has a multi-grade career ladder, with potential promotion to the full performance level without further competition when regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. Work is primarily sedentary, with occasional walking, standing, bending, carrying light items, and accessing transportation. The work may involve noisy, irregular, unpredictable, and stressful settings, including a medical center, group or family homes, and community-based outpatient settings. Occasional use of VA-approved behavioral management techniques may be required when Veterans present a danger to themselves or others. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and meet the Veteran, recovery, certification, English proficiency, and grade-level qualification requirements. Applicants must provide DD-214 and Peer Specialist Certification; transcripts are required when education is used to qualify. Federal applicants may also be subject to time-in-grade requirements. The position includes a one-year probationary period.

Requirements

Must be a U.S. Veteran who has recovered or is recovering from a mental health condition, including mental illness and/or substance use disorder.
Must have at least one year of recovery from a mental health condition.
Must be certified by a not-for-profit entity engaged in peer specialist training or by a State as meeting applicable peer specialist requirements.
Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
Must meet the specialized experience or directly related graduate education requirements for the applicable grade level (GS-6 through GS-9). Specialized experience includes post-personal-recovery work supporting others in mental health and/or addiction recovery, such as peer mentoring, recovery advocacy, psychiatric therapy aide work, or equivalent in-person support.
Current or former Federal employees subject to time-in-grade requirements must meet those requirements; GS-9 applicants must have 52 weeks at GS-8.
Must submit copies of DD-214 and Peer Specialist Certification; transcripts are required if education is used to qualify.
Must complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment, and meet applicable background, security, onboarding, and identification requirements.
Must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Must serve a one-year probationary period.
Must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties, with occasional moderate physical demands, and exercise patience and emotional control.

Responsibilities

Participate in VA health care services, training, consultation, and other professional activities as a 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 and document behaviors that may indicate difficulty adapting or responding to treatment, and report concerns to the treatment team in a timely manner.
Use individual and group meetings to teach Veterans to identify and challenge negative self-talk and overcome fears, and provide 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 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.