Peer Support Apprentice at Lewiston

JOB SUMMARY:

This position will be located in the Recovery and Mental Health Specialty Service of Behavioral Health. The position will be located at  the Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Lewiston, Idaho.

Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 933474

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincolns promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are Americas Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

The Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial VA Medical Center supports Psychosocial and Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation and Outpatient services to veterans throughout Southeastern Washington, Southwestern Idaho, and Northeastern Oregon.  If you would like more information regarding the facility please go to the following website:  http://www.wallawalla.va.gov/.

Lewiston, Idaho is a pleasant town of 30,937 at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers, in the Idaho Panhandle and boasts excellent public schools. Lewiston has the distinction of being Idahos only seaport. The Lewiston area offers geological wonders, world class fishing, wildlife viewing, history and legends, and touring, rafting, or hiking Hells Canyon.

 Special Employment Consideration:  VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more.

NOTE:  Applicant selected under this vacancy announcement will initially be appointed on a time-limited appointment as a Peer Support Apprentice, GS-102-5.  Upon becoming certified and meeting applicable qualification and eligibility requirements, you will then receive consideration for selection for a non-time-limited appointment as a Peer Specialist with promotion potential to GS-9.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
• You must be recovered or recovering from a mental health condition.
• You must be a Veteran.
• Must have a valid unrestricted drivers license.

DUTIES:Back to top

Incumbent will function as an apprentice interdisciplinary team member, assisting professional/non-professional personnel in a rehabilitation treatment program.   Performs a variety of therapeutic and supportive tasks which includes assisting individuals in articulating goals for recovery, learning and practicing new skills, monitoring progress, and assisting in treatment and self help strategies.    Functions as a role model, exhibiting competency in personal recovery and use of coping skills.   Serves as a consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support in outpatient and residential settings.   Performs tasks to assist peers of all ages in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process.   Works as a member of an interdisciplinary team, provides individual and group counseling sessions, and communicates orally and in writing with individuals with a variety of people with different levels of understanding and diverse backgrounds.

Work Schedule:  Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.

Position Description # 00064A

Relocation Expenses are not authorized for this position.

The Peer Support Apprentice position will differ in degree of independence and amount of supervision that is required. Peer Support Apprentices are entry level peer positions (GS-5 level) and will require greater oversight and supervision. Peer Support Specialist positions (GS-6 through 9) are state certified or certified by a VA recognized certification program. 

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.   

Time-in-grade:   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.

BASIC 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 Apprentice position, a person must:

1. Must be a Citizen of the United States

2. Must be a Veteran of the United States Armed Forces.

3. Must have recovered from, or are in the process of recovering from, a mental health condition.

4. Must have spent a minimum of one year in recovery from a mental health condition.

As a Peer Support Apprentice hired to become a certified Peer Support Specialist, you must actively pursue becoming certified as required 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 the position and may result in termination of employment.

If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.  If your resume/application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

REFERENCE: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix F3, Peer Support Apprentice/Peer Specialist, available in the local Human Resources Office.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The work is primarily sedentary.  However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying light items (such as books, papers), accessing transportation, and or driving a government vehicle.  The work requires patience and control of emotions. Functional Requirements:  Light lifting (under 15 pounds), Light carrying (under 15 pounds), Reaching above the shoulder, Use of fingers, Walking (4 hours), Standing(4 hours), Near Vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, Far Vision correctable to 20/50 20/100, Hearing (aid permitted), and Emotional stability.

There is not an education substitution for this position.

Veterans Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation.Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.  For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application checklist or visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

Country: USA, State: Idaho, City: Lewiston, Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.