Peer Support Apprentice / Specialist - Manchester, NH - Overview Summary The incumbent functions as a member of the Homeless-Patient Aligned Care Team (H-PACT), assisting a multidisciplinary team in a rehabilitation treatment Program. The incumbent will perform a variety of tasks that include assisting 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. The incumbent functions as a role model, exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills; serves as a consumer advocate, provides consumer information and peer support for veterans. He/she must have the ability to assist others in treatment based on the principles of recovery and resiliency. The incumbent for the posted position will be working within the Recovery Services team in the Mental Health Service line. The incumbent will be an integral member of the Recovery Services team by assisting with the recovery and reintegration of Veterans. Duties will be based in the community and the Medical Center. Applicants selected at the GS-5 APPRENTICE Level will serve in a time limited entry level capacity to attain the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to prepare the individual for certification as a Peer Specialist and the qualifications for a non-time limited appointment as a Peer Specialist. The incumbent will be required to sign a statement regarding the requirement to obtain certification. Note: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance. The incumbent will serve in a developmental capacity to provide the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the full range of routine assignments found at the full-performance level. During this developmental assignment, the full performance range and level of key functions will not be fully delegated to the incumbent. Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Flexibility is expected to accommodate Veterans' needs. Telework: Not Available Virtual: Not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Peer Support Apprentice / Specialist/00064-A,00165-0,00166-0,00167-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Duties None - $36,899 $72,683 Job Details Application Open Date 5/9/2018 Application Close Date 5/22/2018 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. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at - . 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, 05/22/2018. Time-In-Grade Requirement: 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 by the closing date of this announcement. the Time In Grade requirements are as follows: GS-6: Must have 52 weeks at the GS-5 grade. GS-7: Must have 52 weeks at the GS-6 grade. GS-8: Must have 52 weeks at the GS-7 grade. GS-9: Must have 52 weeks at the GS-8 grade. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: BASIC REQUIREMENTS FOR PEER SPECIALISTS, GS-102-6/9: a. Citizenship. Citizen of the Unitied States. b. Statutory Requirements: Section 405 of the "Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008" (Public Law 110-387) added 38 U.S.C. 7402(b)(13), which provides 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; 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. c. 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. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE FOR PEER SPECIALISTS, GS-102-6/9: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Specialized experience is progressively responsible, post-personal 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 personal recovery. To qualify at the GS-6 level: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5). Specialized experience is progressively responsible, post-personal 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-7 level: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6). Specialized experience is progressively responsible, post-personal 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 personal recovery. To qualify at the GS-8 level: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-7). Specialized experience is progressively responsible, post-personal 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 personal recovery. To qualify at the GS-9 level: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-8). Specialized experience is progressively responsible, post-personal 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 personal recovery. SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR PEER SPECIALISTS, GS-102-6/9: Graduate education or a post-bachelor's degree internship meets the specialized experience required for GS-6/9 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. Six (6) months of graduate education or a 1-year post-bachelor's degree internship meets the requirements for GS-6. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. One and one/half years of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-8. Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree meets the requirements for GS-9. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: - Communication - Partnering - Therapy and Counseling 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: - Physical Requirements: This Position requires travel within the facility catchment area. This position requires operation of a motor vehicle. - 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 05/22/2018 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10206214. - 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.