Career Center

The peer specialist serves as a recovery agent advocating for any effective recovery based services that will aid the veteran in daily living. Participates in the service, training, consultative and other professional activities of rehabilitation treatment program and functions as full professional member of the multidisciplinary team assisting physicians and other professional/non-professional personnel in a program that focuses on substance use disorders. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/23/2023. 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05 level. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06 level. For a GS-08 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07 level. For a GS-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-08 level. 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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement. NOTE: You MUST provide copies of your DD-214, Peer Specialist Certification, and documentation from your mental health provider verifying that you have spent a minimum of 1 year personal recovery from a mental health condition with your application package. BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR PEER SPECIALISTS, GS-0102-6/7/8/9: 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 substance use disorder. 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. Length of Experience as a Consumer of Mental Health Recovery Services: Veterans eligible under 38 U.S.C. 7402(b)(13) must have spent a minimum of 1 year in personal recovery from a mental health condition. ****NOTE: WORK PERFORMED MUST BE FULLY DOCUMENTED AND DETAILED IN YOUR RESUME. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL DISQUALIFY YOU FROM FURTHER CONSIDERATION. ****Qualifications for the GS-6/7/8/9 grade levels are described below: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR PEER SPECIALISTS, GS-102-6/7/8/9: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Specialized experience is progressively responsible, post-personal mental health recovery experience as a mentor providing counseling to support peers in mental health and/or addiction recovery, a recovery advocate directly involved with consumers of mental health services, a psychiatric therapy aide, or equivalent work involving in-person communication to support others in mental health recovery. GS-06: One year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GS-05), related to the work of this position that has given particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Peer Support Specialist. At this level you are able to work from specific instructions for the performance of routine duties and detailed instructions and training in performance of the routine functions. Your work has been closely monitored including having work checked in progress and reviewing completed work for accuracy, adequacy, and adherence to instructions or procedures. GS-07: One year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GS-06), related to the work of this position that has given particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Peer Support Specialist. At this level, routine work has been completed with minimal supervisory oversight and review, however close supervision will have been provided for complex and unusual tasks. GS-08: One year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GS-07), related to the work of this position that has given particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Peer Support Specialist. At this level you have the ability to work with general instructions for the performance of routine duties and detailed instructions and/or training in performance of the non-routine functions and special assignments. Non-routine/novel work will have been reviewed by spot checking and after completion to evaluate the adequacy of methods, procedures, results, ability to solve new and changing problems, etc. GS-09: One year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GS-08), related to the work of this position that has given particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Peer Support Specialist. At this level work will have been performed with considerable independence and you are responsible for making recommendations to the interdisciplinary treatment team that can be relied on for soundness of judgment and maturity of insight on problem cases. ~OR~ Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education, graduate education or a post-bachelor's degree internship meets the specialized experienced required for GS-6/7/8/9 ONLY in those instance where it is directly related to the work of the position. You must have: GS-06: Six (6) months of graduate education or a 1-year post-bachelor's degree internship meets the requirements for this position. GS-07:One full year of graduate education in a degree program directly related to the work of this position. GS-08:One and one-half years of graduate education in a degree program directly related to the work of this position. GS-09:Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree in a program directly related to the work of this position. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communication Problem Solving Teaches Others Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary. Typically, the employee sits to do the work. There may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items (such as books, papers), and accessing transportation. The work may require occasional use of Department of Veteran's Affairs approved behavioral management techniques with Veterans who present a danger to self or others. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. ["Peer Support Specialists perform a variety of therapeutic and supportive tasks that include assisting their peers in articulating their goals for recovery, learning and practicing new skills, helping them monitor their progress, assisting them in their treatment, modeling effective coping techniques and self-­help strategies based on the specialist's own recovery experience, and supporting them in advocating for themselves to obtain effective services. The incumbent functions as a role model, exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; serves as a consumer advocate, provides consumer information and peer support for veterans in outpatient and inpatient settings. This individual must have the ability to assist others in treatment based on the principles of recovery and resiliency. Duties include, but are not limited to: Working with Veterans with very complex mental illnesses, substance use disorders and challenging situations that require effective communication and decision-making skills. Serving as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for effective wellness and holistic recovery-based services that aid Veterans in daily living. Orienting new Veterans to the programs' services, hours, location, staff and other pertinent information. Assisting Veterans to articulate personal recovery goals through the use of individual or group meetings. Assisting Veterans in identifying their skills, strengths, supports, and resources needed to aid them in achieving their recovery goals. Collaborating with Veterans to develop and implement a personal wellness and recovery plan. Assisting Veterans in determining the steps needed to achieve their self-directed recovery goals and wellness. Utilizing recovery tools to coach Veterans on relevant skills needed for self-management of their health condition(s) and pursuit of their personal wellness. Monitoring progress and assisting with the execution of the recovery and wellness plan, making timely reports of progress, and presenting new areas of concern to the treatment team. Contributes to the development of an effective discharge plan. Using ongoing individual and group meetings to teach Veterans how to identify and combat negative self-talk and overcome fears by providing a forum that allows Veteran to share their experiences. Shares stories about personal recovery experiences in relation to current struggles that the Veterans report. Performs other related duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description Title/PD#: Peer Specialist (Substance Use Disorders Program)/PD99702S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

Return to Search Results