Peer Support Apprentice more… ▼
| Location: | Fresno, CA |
| Company: | Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration |
| First posted: | April 01, 2015 |
Duties:
NOTE: This is a TERM appointment (not-to-exceed 13 months). TERM appointments are non-status, non-permanent appointments of limited duration. TERM employees are eligible to earn leave and generally have the same benefits as permanent employees including health and life insurance, within-grade increases and Federal Employees Retirement System and Thrift Savings Plan coverage. Upon becoming certified and meeting applicable qualification and eligibility requirements, Peer Support Apprentices should then receive consideration for selection for a non-time-limited appointment as a Peer Specialist.Preferred Candidates: Will possess a valid state driver’s license and have the ability to maintain a valid driver’s license (in the state that this position exists).Incumbent serves as a Peer Support Apprentice for the VA Central California HCS (VACCHCS), Fresno, within the Social Work Service. The incumbent will serve in an entry level capacity to attain the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to prepare the individual for certification and to be able to perform the full range of assignments found at the full-performance level of the Peer Specialist position. During this entry level assignment, the full performance range and level of key functions will not be delegated to the incumbent. The incumbent functions as an apprentice interdisciplinary team member, assisting physicians and other professional/non-professional personnel in a rehabilitation treatment program. Peer Support Apprentices perform a variety of therapeutic and supportive tasks that include assisting Veteran patients 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 Apprentice’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 in outpatient and inpatient settings. This individual must develop the ability to assist others in treatment based on the principles of recovery and resiliency. By inspiring the hope that recovery and resiliency are achievable goals, the incumbent can assist others who are diagnosed with mental illness or co-occurring disorders to achieve their personal recovery goals by promoting self-determination, personal responsibility, and the empowerment inherent in self-directed recovery. The incumbent performs tasks to assist peers of all ages, from young adult to old age, in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process. Utilizing his/her personal recovery experience, the incumbent may:
- Teach and role model the value of every individual’s recovery experience.
- Assist the Veteran in exploring options for obtaining decent and affordable housing of his/her choice in the most integrated, independent and least intrusive or restrictive environment, by making referrals to appropriate VA housing programs.
- Model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies.
- Assist in obtaining services that suit the individual’s recovery needs.
- Inform Veterans about community and mutual supports and how to use these in the recovery process. Community resources may include but are not limited to: consumer-run self-help and mutual support services, social security office, Department of Family and Children services, local YMCA, library, restaurants, Veterans’ service organizations, apartment complexes and other types of housing, etc.
- Assist Veterans in developing empowerment skills and combating stigma through self-advocacy. This will be accomplished through regular meetings, individual or group sessions through the use of role playing/modeling techniques.
- Serves as liaison with community-based consumer-run and/or consumer-supportive organizations to develop and/or foster Veterans’ community integration and development of natural supports and self-reliance strategies.
- Provide support of Veterans’ vocational choices and assist them in choosing a job that matches their strengths, overcoming job-related anxiety by reviewing job applications, and providing interview tips and practice sessions.
- Assist Veterans in building social skills in the community that will enhance job acquisition and tenure using such techniques as role playing.
The incumbent must maintain a working knowledge of current trends and developments in the mental health field by reading books, journals, and other relevant materials.
- Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Position Description Title, PD#: Peer Support Apprentice, PD# 570-2206
- Bargaining Unit Position: No
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Status: Non-exempt (covered)
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