Veteran Peer Support Specialist

Volunteers of America of Massachusetts•Plymouth, MA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Veteran Peer Support Specialist provides veteran-to-veteran engagement, non-clinical suicide prevention support, community outreach, and short-term, low-threshold service coordination for veterans and other eligible individuals at risk of suicide. Drawing on lived experience and formal peer support training, the specialist builds trust with individuals who may be disconnected from VA services, supports individualized safety and service planning, and coordinates documented warm hand-offs to VA care, benefits, housing, employment, and community resources. The role works within an integrated behavioral health care model focused on behavioral health, financial stability, and safe housing. It includes community-based outreach, peer support, screenings within the scope of training, service coordination, recordkeeping, collaboration with VA and community partners, and participation in supervision, training, and program quality activities. The position is full-time and hybrid, serves an assigned Eastern Massachusetts area, and pays $55,000 per year.

Requirements

Must be a veteran with lived experience in mental health recovery or other relevant experiences supporting a peer-based, recovery-oriented approach.
Must meet applicable VA Peer Specialist qualification and certification requirements.
Must demonstrate the ability to support veterans experiencing emotional distress with empathy, professional boundaries, cultural sensitivity, and trauma-informed, recovery-oriented practices.
Must be willing and able to complete and maintain required suicide-prevention training, including VA S.A.V.E. and applicable gatekeeper or instructor certifications.
Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, time-management, and documentation skills, including the ability to use electronic health records.
Must be able to work independently and collaboratively within an integrated veteran services team while maintaining confidentiality and professional boundaries.
Ability to travel throughout the assigned Eastern Massachusetts service area.
Full-time availability.

Nice To Haves

Experience providing peer support, engaging veterans, conducting community outreach, and connecting individuals to supportive services.
Knowledge of VA and Massachusetts veteran benefits, community resources, crisis referral pathways, housing assistance, employment services, and other supportive programs.
Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Responsibilities

Conduct proactive, in-person and community-based outreach to identify, engage, and build trust with veterans and eligible service members at risk of suicide, particularly those not connected to VA services.
Provide certified, recovery-oriented peer support, mentoring, encouragement, and connections to supportive veteran and community networks, using appropriate lived-experience sharing and professional boundaries.
Assist with program eligibility verification and administer or support VA-approved suicide-risk and baseline mental-health screening tools within training and program procedures; promptly elevate safety concerns.
Collaborate with participants and appropriate staff to develop and regularly update individualized service and safety plans using motivational interviewing and person-centered approaches.
Complete at least weekly participant contacts and applicable weekly C-SSRS reassessments, adjusting contact frequency based on assessed need, safety protocols, and supervision.
Coordinate and document warm hand-offs to VA Suicide Prevention Teams, VA Medical Centers, VA healthcare, and community providers; accompany veterans to appointments when beneficial and appropriate.
Provide low-threshold case management and referrals for housing, employment, financial assistance, food, transportation, public benefits, and other social needs; transition participants who need intensive case management to appropriate programs.
Coordinate with the accredited National Service Officer for VA benefits navigation.
Participate in community events, outreach campaigns, veteran organization and senior center events, and regional partner activities to expand access to suicide prevention supports.
Support suicide prevention education and complete assigned certifications to help deliver approved gatekeeper training and community education.
Maintain accurate and timely participant records, screening results, releases of information, outreach logs, referrals, and follow-up documentation.
Follow VOAMASS and VA requirements for confidentiality, informed consent, participant safety, critical incident escalation, documentation, and professional ethics.
Participate in weekly case conferencing, twice-monthly individual supervision, required staff training, quality assurance reviews, and continuous improvement activities.
Contribute to grant performance goals and reporting, including outreach contacts, participant engagement, screening timeliness, documented referrals, and assigned 30-, 60-, and 90-day follow-up activities.

Benefits

Health, vision, and dental insurance, with 90% of the medical deductible and certain co-pays paid by the employer.
Pre-tax flexible spending account and options for child care, transit, and parking expenses.
403(b) retirement plan with employer match.
24/7 nurse hotline.
Employee assistance program.
Employer-paid long-term disability and life insurance.
Pet insurance.
Tuition remission programs.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
Vacation starting at three weeks and increasing to four weeks after three years of employment.
14 paid holidays.
Fitness and wellness reimbursement, including expenses such as gym membership.
Employee discount program.
Cash bonus for referring qualified candidates, with no annual cap.