Summary
This Peer Specialist position may only be filled with a Veteran that meets statutory requirements that are detailed in the qualifications section. This position functions as an interdisciplinary team member - assisting physicians and other professional/ non-professional personnel in a rehabilitation treatment program.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 05/11/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
Basic Requirements
- FOR PEER SUPPORT APPRENTICES - GS-102-5: As a Peer Support Apprentice hired to become a certified Peer Specialist - a Veteran must have spent a minimum of 1 year in recovery from a mental health condition (mental illness and/or substance use disorder)
- In all cases - Peer Support Apprentices must actively pursue becoming certified as required to serve as a Peer Specialist by 38 U.S.C. 7402(b)(13)(B)
- At the time of appointment - the supervisor will provide the Peer Support Apprentice with the written requirements for becoming certified - the date by which he or she must become certified - and the consequences for not becoming certified by the deadline
- Failure to become certified by the prescribed date will result in removal from this GS-102 occupation and may result in termination of employment
- 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 VRA - and 30% DAV
- Those eligible under the Employment Program for People with Disabilities
- and those eligible for CTAP/ICTAP
- Length of Experience in Recovery Basic Requirement: Successful recovery is exemplified by one who manages symptoms of illness and pursues a healthy lifestyle
- lives independently
- is employed or volunteers significant time approximating at least a part-time employment schedule
- has meaningful relationships with family members and friends
- and is socially involved in the community through clubs - hobby groups - church - civic organizations or Veteran organizations in which the individual provides a service to others
- NOTE: You MUST provide copies of your DD-214 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
- Reference: 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
- 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: Participates 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
- Uses 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
- Observes 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
- 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 Veteran to share their experiences
- As necessary - handles crisis interventions for Veterans and addresses other emergent situations without the benefit of specific instructions
- Informs Veterans about VA and community supports and resources - including how to effectively utilize them in the recovery and wellness process
- 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 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/PD#: Peer Support Apprentice/PD99318S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
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