Peer Specialist
Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Location: White City
Posted on: June 24, 2022
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Job Description:
Summary The position functions as an interdisciplinary team
member, assisting physicians and other
professional/non-professional personnel in a rehabilitation
treatment program. Peer specialists perform a variety of
therapeutic and supportive tasks that include assisting Veterans in
articulating their goals for recovery, learning and practicing new
skills. Responsibilities Duties include but not limited to:
Participating in the service, training, consultation, and other
professional activities of VA health care services and functions as
a fully vested member of the multidisciplinary team. In this
capacity, the position completes assignments based on comprehensive
peer support knowledge and recognition by others of demonstrated
superior skill and proven sound judgment. Working with Veterans
with very complex mental illnesses 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. Assisting Veterans to articulate personal recovery
goals through the use of individual or group meetings.
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. Coaching 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, makes timely reports
of progress, and presents new areas of concern to the treatment
team. Contributing to the development of an effective discharge
plan. Observing behaviors 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), completes appropriate documentation, and
reports concerns to the treatment team in a timely manner. Teaching
Veterans how to identify and combat negative self-talk and overcome
fears by providing a forum that allows Veteran to share their
experiences. When appropriate, the position shares stories about
personal recovery experiences in relation to current struggles that
the Veterans report. These discreet self disclosures made by the
position facilitate Veterans recovery by conveying hope that change
and recovery are possible. Handling of crisis interventions for
Veterans and addresses other emergent situations without the
benefit of specific instructions. These interventions are carefully
documented and communicated to the multidisciplinary team in a
timely manner. Utilizing his/her personal recovery experience, the
position will: Teach and role model the value of every individual's
recovery experience. Model effective coping techniques, holistic
wellness, and self-help strategies. Assist in obtaining services
that suit the individual's personal recovery and wellness needs.
Assist Veterans in exploring their interests and options for making
improvements in life functioning areas such as housing, employment,
relationships, and community engagement (i.e. assist Veterans in
exploring options for obtaining decent and affordable housing and
make referrals to appropriate VA housing programs; support Veterans
vocational choices and refer them to appropriate resources to
support employment). Inform Veterans about VA and community
supports and resources, including how to effectively utilize them
in the recovery and wellness process. Community resources may
include, but are not limited to consumer-run organizations,
self-help and mutual support services, Social Security offices,
Department of Family and Children Services, YMCAs, libraries,
restaurants, Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs), and the
Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). Assist Veterans in
developing empowerment skills, identifying strengths, and combating
stigma through self-advocacy. This is accomplished through regular
individual or group meetings and using role playing/modeling
techniques. May provide support of Veterans' vocational choices and
assists them in choosing a job matching their strengths, overcoming
job-related anxiety by reviewing job applications, providing
interview tips, and practice sessions. Serves as liaison to
community-based organizations to develop and/or foster Veterans'
community integration, natural supports, and self-reliant
strategies. May perform outreach activities to establish community
partnerships that will provide health care services for the
Veterans in the community and inform Veterans of the availability
of those health care services and other benefits. Assist Veterans
in building social skills in the community that enhance community
reintegration, using techniques such as role playing and social
skills training. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm
PST Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position
Description/PD#: Peer Specialist/PD00068A Relocation/Recruitment
Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not
Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions
of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All
applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing
designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal
drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested
will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration
is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to
serve a probationary period Subject to background/security
investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an
online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza
vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans
Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a
requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care
Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet
all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this
announcement, 06/21/2022. 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 within
30 days of the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-9
position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-8. 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. 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. BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR PEER SPECIALISTS,
GS-102-9: 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: (1) be a veteran who has recovered or is recovering
from a mental health condition; and (2) be certified by - (a) 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 (b) 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: You MUST provide copies of your DD-214 and Peer
Specialist Certification with your application package. In addition
to the basic requirements, applicants must meet the grade specific
experience and/or education requirements as described below: You
may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described
below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of
specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade
GS-8 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the
organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically
include, but are not limited to: knowledge of a wide range of
principles, methods and techniques of psychology, social work,
sociology, psychiatric rehabilitation and counseling, and wellness
gained by the position's lived experience as a person in recovery
from a mental health condition, but does not require specific
formal education; knowledge of common therapeutic practices and the
ability to use a wide range of methods or tools commonly taught in
formal peer support certification training programs; ability to
establish and maintain effective person-to-person relationships,
skill in oral and written communication, ability to inspire
confidence and motivate individuals, and leadership knowledge;
knowledge of holistic approaches to peer support interventions,
including peer support counseling related to crisis situations, and
extensive knowledge of various related maladies suffered by
Veterans with behavioral or adjustment disorders; knowledge of the
signs and symptoms of mental illnesses (i.e., auditory and visual
hallucinations, aggressive talk and behavior, thoughts of self-harm
or harm towards others, isolation) and the ability to assist the
Veteran to address symptoms using strategies such as positive
self-talk and the ability to use good judgment; knowledge of
community resources necessary for independent living and the
ability to teach those skills to other individuals; knowledge of
the recovery process and ability to facilitate recovery focused
conversations using common recovery tools; has practical
understanding of how roles of ethnicity, race, spirituality,
gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, and local community
and other subcultures may influence recovery; knowledge of basic
group dynamics and how to establish and sustain self-help (mutual
support) and educational groups by soliciting input from Veterans
on their strengths and interests; and knowledge of eligibility
requirements for Veteran services. OR, Education: Applicants may
substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based
on education for this grade level you must have successfully
completed two (2) years of progressively higher-level graduate
education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent
graduate degree. (Transcripts Required) You will be rated on the
following Competencies for this position:
CommunicationSelf-ManagementTeaching OthersTeam Building 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 Veterans 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/.
Education A transcript must be submitted with your application if
you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department
of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or
institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can
verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If
you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements,
you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your
transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For
further information, visit:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
Additional Information Special Employment Consideration: VA
encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those
eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A,
Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual
disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric
disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable
service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency
Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment
authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator. The Interagency
Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition
Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA
competitive service employees with selection priority over other
candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you
must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice,
your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50
noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be
found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified:
applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum
qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and
who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job.
Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career
Transition Resources website at
http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional
vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care
personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against
COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e.,
medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote
workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you
will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit
documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The
agency will provide additional information regarding what
information or documentation will be needed and how you can request
a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the
reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online
or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view
the following link for information regarding an Alternate
Application.
Keywords: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Medford , Peer Specialist, Other , White City, Oregon
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