Details
Posted: 06-Jul-22
Location: Brockton, Massachusetts
Salary: Open
Internal Number: 663477400
The position of Peer Support Specialist serves as an interdisciplinary team member, assisting clinicians and other professional/non-professional personnel with recovery oriented care for Veterans within the service Line. This is NOT a virtual or remote position; the selectee will be required to report to the Brockton, MA VAMC and its CBOC's. Applicants must be a Veteran with at least 1 year of recovery from a Mental Health issue and possess a Peer Support certification to be considered. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/25/2022. 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 Support 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. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Veteran is defined as a person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. Restricted to VETERANS - See IMPORTANT NOTICE. Open to current, permanent employees of the VA (i.e. T38, T38 Hybrid, and VCS employees on excepted appts covered by an interchange agreement); Federal employees on a Career/Career-Conditional appt.; Former competitive civil service employees eligible for reinstatement; Veterans eligible under VEOA, VRA, and 30% DAV; Those eligible under the Employment Program for People with Disabilities; and those eligible for CTAP/ICTAP. NOTE: You MUST provide copies of your DD-214 and Peer Specialist Certification, with your application package. MINIMUM GRADE LEVEL QUALIFICATIONS GS-6: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one (1) 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: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one (1) 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: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one (1) 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: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least one (1) 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 situations. -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. 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 applicant must be able to perform primarily light and sedentary duties with occasionally moderate physical demands, exercise patience, and control emotions, with reasonable accommodation if necessary, without endangering the health and safety of the applicant or others. 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. Veterans demonstrate varying levels of wellness, recovery, and symptoms. This position must be equipped to be flexible and accept that work areas are often noisy, irregular, unpredictable, and stressful. Work is performed in a wide range of settings, including the Medical Center, group or family homes, community-based outpatient settings, community organizations, or in transport vehicles (public or government). ["This vacancy is also being announced as a Peer Support Apprentice under announcement: 11537738 . If you are a Veteran with at least 1 year of recovery from a mental health issue and wish to help fellow Veterans but do not have the required Peer Support Certification, we encourage you to apply to the Apprentice vacancy which will allow you to earn the required certification while employed with the VA. DUTIES\nThe Post-Incarceration Engagement (PIE) re-entry Peer Specialist will be based at the Brockton, MA VA medical center and will work with Veterans involved in the criminal justice system, including those exiting prison and re-entering society. The Peer will be a Veteran with lived experience overcoming personal challenges who is comfortable sharing their lived experience with others and will be familiar with the VA healthcare system and Veteran resources. These personal challenges may include past mental health, substance abuse, &/or criminal justice involvement. The Peer Specialist will work closely with clinical staff, case managers from the VA's Healthcare for Re-entry Veterans (HCRV) program to identify and help obtain services that meet their clients' changing needs. Peers build trust with clients, provide mentoring and role modeling, and draw on their connections to help link clients with appropriate services in VA and in the community. Coordinating with HCRV outreach specialists (who conduct the reentry planning) Helping identify and connect with appropriate VA services for healthcare, employment and housing, etc. Meeting with incarcerated Veteran at least once pre-release and may run groups with incarcerated Veterans, when allowable by the VA and the prison/jail. On day of release, meeting with Veteran to provide transportation to court officer or housing if needed (and when allowable by the VA and the local prison/jail). Connecting with the Veteran within the first 72 hours post-release to assist with adjustment, identify needs and ensure connection with VA reentry case managers. Helping navigate the local public transportation system and possibly give rides to initial appointments. Assisting with exploring options for obtaining stable housing, including linkage to VA and community programs. Assist with helping Veterans to learn how to use smart phones, tablets, and/or build computer skills Helping Veterans identify and apply for benefits in the VA and in the community. Assisting Veterans to develop life skills and combat stigma through self-advocacy. Informing Veterans about local community support groups such as AA/NA meetings, Veteran specific organizations, faith-based organizations, local charities and businesses for clothing, food, furnishings, etc. Serving as a positive role model for Veterans who are in recovery or are striving to be in recovery. Utilizing a Whole Health approach as well as appropriate clinical techniques, such as motivational interviewing, to help the client identify what is most important to them so they help clients set achievable short-term and long-term goals and address the Veterans' needs in a wholistic manner. Leading groups for justice-involved Veterans Establishing close ties with staff at DOC halfway houses and transitional housing programs. The peer will attend regular HUD-VASH peer team meetings and regular HCRV meetings Will engage in trainings offered to HUD-VASH peers. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00pm\nTelework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Description/PD#: Peer Support Specialist/PD00065A\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. 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. Notifications: This position is a NAGE Bargaining Unit position. May be required to attend conference at other facilities or other VA sites on occasion. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. This position is in the Competitive Service."]