Peer Specialists perform a variety of therapeutic and supportive tasks that include assisting their peers in articulating their goals for recovery, 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 specialist's own recovery experience, and supporting them in advocating for themselves to obtain effective services. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/16/2022. Area of Consideration and Eligibility/Statutory Requirements Section 405 of the "Veteran's Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008" (Public Law 110-387), as codified in 38 USC 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. (2) Be certified as a Peer Specialist by: (a) a non-profit entity engaged in Peer Specialist training as having met such criteria as the Secretary shall establish for Peer Specialist position; or (b) a State as having satisfied relevant State requirements for a peer specialist position. (3) Have experience as a Consumer of Mental Health Recovery Services. Veterans eligible under 38 USC 7402(b)(13) must have spent a minimum of one (1) year in personal recovery from a mental health condition. Specialized Experience Requirement (GS-06): To qualify at the GS-06 grade, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level or higher. Education and/or a combination of education experience can be used to qualify for the position. Specialized experience must document experience progressively responsible, 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. OR, Education: Successfully completed six (6) months of graduate education in a degree program directly related to the work of this position. OR, Bachelor's Degree Internship: Successfully completed one (1) year post-bachelor's degree internship directly related to the work of this position. (Must be fully documented within your resume). Specialized Experience Requirement (GS-07):To qualify at the GS-07 grade, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-06 level or higher. Education and/or a combination of education experience can be used to qualify for the position. Specialized experience must document experience progressively responsible, 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. OR, Education: Successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-07. OR, Bachelor's Degree Internship: Successfully completed one (1) year post-bachelor's degree internship directly related to the work of this position. (Must be fully documented within your resume). Specialized Experience Requirement (GS-08):To qualify at the GS-08 grade, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level or higher. Education and/or a combination of education experience can be used to qualify for the position. Specialized experience must document experience progressively responsible, 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. OR, Education: Successfully completed one and one/half (1.5) years of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-08. OR, Bachelor's Degree Internship: Successfully completed one (1) year post-bachelor's degree internship directly related to the work of this position. (Must be fully documented within your resume). Specialized Experience Requirement (GS-09): To qualify at the GS-09 grade, you must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-08 level or higher. Education and/or a combination of education experience can be used to qualify for the position. Specialized experience must document experience progressively responsible, 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. OR, Education: Successfully completed two (2) full years of graduate education or a master's degree meets the requirements for GS-09. OR, Bachelor's Degree Internship: Successfully completed one (1) year post-bachelor's degree internship directly related to the work of this position. (Must be fully documented within your resume). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: 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. Not required, but highly desired experience. Experience providing peer services on inpatient behavioral health and/or residential treatment settings. Experience providing peer services for Veterans with psychosis or other serious mental illness, PTSD and/or substance use disorders. 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 will sit to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items (such as books, papers), accessing transportation, and/or driving a government vehicle. The work requires patience and control of emotions. The work may require occasional use of appropriate techniques to physically restrain clients 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 http://://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. ["Duties may include but are not limited to: -Collaborate with veterans to develop and implement a personal wellness and recovery plan.\n-Provide 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.\n-Assist in building social skills in the community that enhance community reintegration, using techniques such as role playing and social skills training.\n-Utilize recovery tools to coach veterans on relevant skills needed for self-management of their health condition(s) and pursuit of their personal wellness.\n-Observe behaviors that might indicate difficulty adapting or responding to treatment.\n-Assist veterans in exploring their interests and options for making improvements in life functioning areas such as housing, employment, relationships, and community engagement.\n-Provide and advocate for effective wellness and holistic recovery-based services that aid in daily living.\n-Identify veteran's skills, strengths, supports, and resources needed to aid them in achieving their recovery goals. Work Schedule: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday\nCompressed/Flexible: Not Eligible\nTelework: Not Eligible\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Description/PD#: Peer Specialist / [GS-05 (PD# 00064-A; GS-06 (PD# 11076-A); GS-07 (PD# 11075-A); GS-08 (PD# 11074-A);GS-09 (PD# 09765-A)]\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not Required\nPromotion Potential: This position has promotional potential to the GS-09 Level."]