Peer Specialist

This Peer Specialist position may only be filled with a Veteran that meets statutory requirements that are detailed in the qualifications section. The Peer Specialist 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.

The Peer Specialist 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, modeling effective coping techniques and self-help strategies based on the peer specialist's own recovery experience, and supporting them in advocating for themselves to obtain effective services.

Duties include, but not limited to the following:

* Experience working with individuals with very complex mental illnesses and challenging situations that require effective communication and decision-making skills.

* Utilizes recovery tools to coach others on relevant skills needed for self-management of their health condition(s) and pursuit of their personal wellness.

* Monitors progress and assists with the execution of individual recovery and wellness plans.

* Assists individuals in articulating personal recovery goals through the use of individual or group meetings.

* Handles crisis interventions and addresses other emergent situations through immediate consultation.

* 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).

* 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.

* Model effective coping techniques, holistic wellness, and self-help strategies.

* Assists individuals in identifying their skills, strengths, supports, and resources needed to aid them in achieving their recovery goals.

* Assist individual in developing empowerment skills, identifying strengths, and combating stigma through self-advocacy.

* Assist individual in exploring their interests and options for making improvements in life functioning areas such as housing, employment, relationships , and community engagement.

* Teach and role model the value of every individual's recovery experience.

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/PD#:
Peer Specialist/PD99327S, PD99326S, PD99325S, and PD99324S

Relocation/Recruitment

Incentives:

Not authorized.

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI):
Not approved.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS):
Not authorized.