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 and personal wellness - learning and practicing new skills - helping them monitor their progress - assisting them in their treatment.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 06/02/2025. 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-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. 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 as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Basic Requirements:

• FOR PEER SPECIALISTS a
• 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
• b
• 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
• 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
• MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS GS-6: One year of specialized experience at the next lower graded level - which involved 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
• 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-7: One year of specialized experience at the next lower graded level - which involved 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
• 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-8: One year of specialized experience at the next lower graded level - which involved 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
• 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-9: One year of specialized experience at the next lower graded level - which involved 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
• 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 SUBSTITUTION: (Transcripts are required with your application package) GS-6: Successful completion Six (6) months of graduate education or a 1-year post-bachelor's degree internship meets the requirements for GS-6. Only education that is directly related to the work of the position is creditable
• GS-7: Successful completion One (1) full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. Only education that is directly related to the work of the position is creditable
• GS-8: Successful completion One and one/half (1 ½) years of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-8. Only education that is directly related to the work of the position is creditable
• GS-9: Successful completion Two (2) full years of graduate education or a master's degree meets the requirements for GS-9. Only education that is directly related to the work of the position is creditable
• You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Problem Solving Communication 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/.

Duties

• These positions are focused on working with Veterans who are in treatment for Substance Use Disorders
• The Peer Specialist assigned to the Boston campus will work with the outpatient Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program and the Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program
• The Peer Specialist assigned to the Brockton campus will work with the Outpatient Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program
• The Peer Specialist assists Veterans in determining the steps needed to achieve their self-directed recovery and wellness goals related to their substance use
• The position assists Veterans in determining the steps needed to achieve their self-directed recovery and wellness goals
• The position also contributes to the development of an effective recovery plan reflective of the Veteran's voice that is based upon their understanding of the Veteran's goals and interests
• The position utilizes recovery tools to coach Veterans on relevant skills needed for self-management of their health condition(s) and pursuit of their personal wellness
• The position monitors progress and assists with the execution of the recovery and wellness plan - makes timely reports of progress - and presents new areas of concern to the treatment team
• The position uses 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 Veterans 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
• Utilizing their personal recovery experience - the position duties included but are not limited to the following: Teach and role model the value of every individual's recovery experience
• Use personal recovery experiences to model coping techniques and recovery tolls to coach Veterans to relevant skills need for self-management of their health condition(s) and pursuit of their personal wellness
• 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 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 - YMCAs - libraries - restaurants - Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) - and the other natural supports
• 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
• Serve 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
• When necessary - the position handles crisis interventions for Veterans and addresses other emergent situations through immediate consultation with the supervisor or most available clinical provider
• These crisis interventions are carefully documented and communicated to the interdisciplinary team in a timely manner
• Maintains a working knowledge of current trends and developments in holistic approaches in wellness and recovery by reading books - journals - and other relevant materials - Performs other 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 Compressed/Flexible: Telework: Ad Hoc Telework may be available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Peer Specialist/PD99695S - PD99511S - PD99510S - PD99701S - PD99702S - and PD00065A