Peer Support Apprentice/Certified Peer Specialist - Buffalo, NY - Overview Summary NOTE: The entry level Peer Support Apprentice position itself does not provide any known promotion potential, but does allow uncertified, but otherwise qualified veterans to receive training for becoming certified and thus fully qualified for future non-time limited Peer Specialist opportunities. Peer support apprentices serve in a developmental capacity and do not receive the full range of assignments performed by Peer Specialist positions. This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-09. At the GS-05 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-09. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm, subject to agency needs. Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Peer Apprentice PD#00064-A/Peer Specialist PD#00065-A, PD#00066-A, PD# 00067-A, PD#00068-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Duties This position is split between Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Program (PRRC) and Suicide Prevention, the peer specialist serves as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for any effective recovery bases services that will aid the veteran in daily living. As such, he/she participates in the service, training, consultative and other professional activities of rehabilitation treatment program and functions as full professional member of the multidisciplinary team assisting physicians and other professional/non-professional personnel in a rehabilitation treatment program. The incumbent performs 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. Accessing transportation and driving a government car may be required as work is performed in a wide range of settings, including within the Medical Center, Community Based Outpatient Clinics, in community or private family homes; or in transport vehicles. - $34,497 $67,950 Job Details Application Open Date 5/2/2018 Application Close Date 5/9/2018 Organization Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Who May Apply None Status None - Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the - site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the - document. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an - . - Qualifications - To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement . Time-in-Grade Restrictions - 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 unless they qualify for a non-competitive appointment such as Schedule A, VRA or 30% or more disabled. The grade must have been held in the Federal service but may have been in any occupation. Proper documentation must be submitted with your application. The following basic requirements that must be met: Statutory Requirements. Section 405 of Public Law 110-387, as codified in 38 USC 7402(b)(13), established that to be eligible to receive appointment as a Peer Specialist position, a person must: (1) be a veteran* who has recovered or is recovering from a mental health condition; (2) (GS-6 and higher) 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. NOTE: Applicant's hired as Peer Support Apprentices at the GS-5 level will be required to be certified within a prescribed time period. Failure to do so may result in termination. Information regarding certification requirements can be found at: Length of Experience as a Consumer of Mental Health Recovery Services. Veterans eligible under 38 USC 7402(b)(13) must have spent a minimum of 1 year in personal recovery from a mental health condition. *Definition of a Veteran: Per 38 U.S.C. 101(2) the term "Veteran" means a person who service in the active military, naval or air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable (or submits a certification that he or she is expected to be discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date of the certification's submission). In addition to meeting the basic requirements: To qualify above the GS-5 Apprentice level candidates must have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or may substitute education indicated below. Specialized experience is 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. To qualify at the GS-6 level you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in the Federal Service closely related to the work of this position that has given me the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Peer Support Specialist. At this level you are able to work from specific instructions for the performance of routine duties and detailed instructions and training in performance of the routine functions. 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. OR you must have successfully completed six (6) months of graduate education in a degree program directly related to the work of this position. Transcripts (unofficial) are required at time of application; OR you must have successfully completed a one (1) year post-bachelor's degree internship directly related to the work of this position (must be fully documented within your resume). To qualify for this position at the GS-7 level you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 level in the Federal Service closely related to the work of this position that has given me the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Peer Support Specialist. 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. OR, you must have successfully completed one (1) year of graduate education in a degree program directly related to the work of this position. Transcripts (unofficial) are required at time of application. To qualify for this position at the GS-8 level you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-7 level in the Federal Service closely related to the work of this position that has given me the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Peer Support Specialist. 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.; OR you must have successfully completed one and one half (1-1/2) years of graduate education in a degree program directly related to the work of this position. Transcripts (unofficial) are required at time of application. To qualify for this position at the GS-9 level you must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-8 level in the Federal Service closely related to the work of this position that has given me the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Peer Support Specialist. 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, you must have successfully completed two (2) years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. Transcripts (unofficial) are required at time of application. - Benefits - How To Apply - All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 05/09/2018 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10202841. - To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. - Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Application page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete. - Additional Details - Series: 0102-Social Science Aid and Technician Job Pay Type: Per Year Job Openings: 1 Job Position: ST-10202841-18-AC This position is split between Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Program (PRRC) and Suicide Prevention, the peer specialist serves as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for any effective recovery bases services that will aid the veteran in daily living. As such, he/she participates in the service, training, consultative and other professional activities of rehabilitation treatment program and functions as full professional member of the multidisciplinary team assisting physicians and other professional/non-professional personnel in a rehabilitation treatment program. The incumbent performs 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. Accessing transportation and driving a government car may be required as work is performed in a wide range of settings, including within the Medical Center, Community Based Outpatient Clinics, in community or private family homes; or in transport vehicles.