Peer Specialist Jobs

About The Position

Requirements

• Must be a Veteran who has recovered or is recovering from a mental health condition, as defined in the statutory requirements.
• 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 training entity.
• Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• For GS-6 through GS-9, must have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade involving post-personal-recovery experience supporting peers in mental health and/or addiction recovery, or meet the stated directly related graduate-education substitution for the grade.
• Current or former federal employees subject to time-in-grade rules must meet the applicable 52-week requirement for the grade sought.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, meet applicable selective service requirements, and pass a background/security investigation.
• Must complete required onboarding and identification requirements and participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve the applicable one-year probationary period or two-year trial period.
• Must provide copies of DD-214 and peer specialist certification with the application; transcripts are required when education is used to qualify.
• Must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasional moderate physical demands, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering health or safety.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience working as a VA peer support apprentice or peer specialist.

Responsibilities

• Participate in VA health care service, training, consultation, and other professional activities as a full member of the multidisciplinary team.
• Use personal recovery experience to model coping techniques and recovery tools and coach Veterans in skills for managing health conditions and pursuing personal wellness.
• Observe behaviors that may indicate difficulty adapting or responding to treatment; document observations and report concerns promptly to the treatment team.
• Use individual and group meetings to help Veterans identify and counter negative self-talk and overcome fears by providing a forum to share 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 wellness and recovery approaches through relevant reading and materials.
• Complete research and clinical documentation.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.
• VA may approve credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual leave accrual rate.