Peer Specialist

Description:

This position provides Veterans the world-class benefits and services they have earned and does so by adhering to the highest standards of compassion, commitment, excellence, professionalism, integrity, accountability, and stewardship. This position may provide peer support services to both female and male Veterans depending on the needs of the Veteran population at their facility.

Requirements:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/31/2024.


BASIC REQUIRMENTS: Statutory Requirements: Section 405 of Public Law 110-387, as codified in 38 U.S.C. 7402(b)(13), established that to be eligible to receive appointment to a Peer Specialist position, a person must: Be a veteran who has recovered or is recovering from a mental health condition; AND, Be certified by: A not-for-profit entity engaged in peer specialist training as having met such criteria as the Secretary shall establish for a peer specialist position; Or, A State as having satisfied relevant State requirements for a peer specialist position. And, Length of Experience in Recovery: must have at least 1 year of recovery from a mental health condition (mental illness and/or substance use disorder). Successful recovery is exemplified by one who manages symptoms of illness and pursues a healthy lifestyle; lives independently; is employed or volunteers significant time approximating at least a part-time employment schedule; has meaningful relationships with family members and friends; and is socially involved in the community through clubs, hobby groups, church, civic organizations or Veteran organizations in which the individual provides a service to others.
NOTE: You MUST provide copies of your DD-214 and Peer Specialist Certification, with your application package.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements at the next lower level by the closing of this announcement. Example: For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

Specialized Grade Level Requirements. In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must have the grade level requirements listed below:

GS-06 Grade Level: To qualify for this position at the GS-06 level, applicants must have one of the following: Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in the Federal Service closely related to the work of this position that has given me the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Peer Specialist. Examples of Specialized experience include: Assist individual(s) in exploring their interests and options for making improvements in life functioning areas such as housing, employment, relationships , and community engagement. Assists individuals in identifying their skills, strengths, supports, and resources needed to aid them in achieving their recovery goals. Observes behaviors of others that might indicate difficulty adapting or responding to treatment (e.g., missed assessment appointments, failure to attend or maintain abstinence, risk to self or others, disruptive behavior). Or, Education: Successfully completed six (6) months of graduate education in a degree program directly related to the work of this position. Transcripts (unofficial) are required at time of application. GS-07 Grade Level: To qualify for this position at the GS-07 level, applicant must have one of the following: Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 level in the Federal Service closely related to the work of this position that has given me the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Peer Specialist. Specialized experience includes: Assist individual in developing empowerment skills, identifying strengths, and combating stigma through self-advocacy. Teach and role model the value of every individual's recovery experience. Assists individuals in articulating personal recovery goals through the use of individual or group meetings. Utilizes recovery tools to coach others on relevant skills needed for self-management of their health condition(s) and pursuit of their personal wellness. Or, Education: One full year of graduate education (Diploma and/or transcripts must be uploaded for appropriate consideration)
GS-08 Level: To qualify for this position at the GS-07 level, applicants must have one of the following: Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal Service closely related to the work of this position that has given me the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Peer Specialist. Specialized experience includes: Handles crisis interventions and addresses other emergent situations through immediate consultation. Reports concerns to the treatment team in a timely manner. Shares stories about personal recovery experiences in relation to current struggles that individuals are reporting. Or, Education: Successfully completed one and one half (1-1/2) years of graduate education in a degree program directly related to the work of this position. (Diploma and/or transcripts must be uploaded for appropriate consideration) GS-09 Grade Level: To qualify for this position at the GS-09 level, applicant musts have one of the following: Experience: At least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-8 level in the Federal Service closely related to the work of this position that has given me the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Peer Specialist. Specialized experience includes: Experience working with individuals with very complex mental illnesses and challenging situations that require effective communication and decision-making skills. Model effective coping techniques, holistic wellness, and self-help strategies. Shares stories about personal recovery experiences in relation to current struggles that individuals are reporting. Handles crisis interventions and addresses other emergent situations through immediate consultation. Or, Education: Successfully completed two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or a master's or equivalent graduate degree. Graduate level education and/or degree program must be directly related to the work of this position.