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Peer Support Specialist (PSS)
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System’s (VAGLAHS)
Community Engagement and Reintegration Service (CERS)
Housing and Urban Development (HUD-VASH Program)
Place of Performance: VA Downtown Los Angeles Ambulatory Clinic with occasional travel to community-based settings throughout Los Angeles County and outlying areas (a government vehicle will be provided to use when traveling).
Period of Performance: September 23rd, 2024, to September 22nd, 2025 (with two additional option year periods).
Schedule: Monday-Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm (no services will be required on weekends, evenings, or federal holidays).
Overview: This position functions as an integral member of the interdisciplinary team, assisting both professional and paraprofessional personnel. The PSS performs a variety of therapeutic and supportive tasks, including helping Veterans articulate their recovery and personal wellness goals, learn and practice new skills, monitor progress, and engage in treatment. The PSS serves as role models, demonstrating effective coping strategies based on their own recovery experiences. They assist Veterans in articulating and advocating for their treatment goals, while providing information and peer support services across outpatient, inpatient, and community settings. Through their own recovery journey, the PSS helps Veterans access necessary services and develop the skills needed for ongoing personal wellness. This individual must develop the ability to assist others in treatment by applying the principles of recovery, wellness, and resiliency. They promote self-determination, personal responsibility, and the empowerment inherent in self-directed recovery. By inspiring hope that recovery and resiliency are achievable, the position empowers Veterans diagnosed with mental health conditions, co-occurring disorders, or other chronic illnesses/injuries to reach their personal recovery goals. The position performs a wide range of tasks to assist Veterans in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery and wellness process.
The PSS shall meet the following qualifying criteria:
The PSS shall complete the VA designated Peer Specialist approved certification course within six (6) months of serving on the contract and become certified within one (1) year of serving on the contract. The PSS shall be a Veteran and have a history of at least one (1) of the following: mental health, substance misuse, health concerns, justice involvement and/or homelessness.
Be proficient in writing and speaking in the English language, using correct grammar and enunciation.
Be knowledgeable of the State of California Welfare Programs.
Possess working knowledge of medical and psychiatric diagnostic treatment and procedural terminology.
Understand human behavior and the impact of the illness on Veterans and their families.
Be culturally sensitive to individuals from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Have a basic understanding of VAGLAHS social service role, housing-first model, harm reduction, and homeless services.
Be knowledgeable of community resources and how to access these resources.
Exercise efficient time management skills and prioritize assignments to ensure work is completed in a timely manner.
Work independently on assignments including through frequent interruptions and distractions.
Must hold a current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from an accredited provider.
Required Knowledge for Peer Support Specialist position:
Must possess general knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques in psychology, social work, sociology, psychiatric rehabilitation, counseling, and wellness, informed by their lived experience as a person in recovery. The PSS shall demonstrate knowledge of common therapeutic practices and the ability to use a wide range of methods or tools commonly taught in formal peer support certification training programs. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective person-to-person relationships, skilled in oral and written communication, and ability to inspire confidence and motivate individuals. This position does not require specific formal education.
Knowledge of holistic approaches to peer support practices, including crisis counseling.
Knowledge of the presentation of mental health disorders (i.e., auditory/visual hallucinations, aggressive talk and behavior, thoughts of self-harm or harm towards others, isolation, etc.) and the ability to assist Veterans in addressing symptoms using sound judgement and peer interventions.
General understanding of common psychiatric disorders and knowledge of the diagnostic scheme for mental health disorders, including knowledge of substance use disorders and dual diagnosis.
Knowledge of community resources necessary for independent living and the ability to teach life skills to Veterans.
Knowledge of the recovery process and ability to facilitate recovery-focused conversations using common recovery tools.
Knowledge of crisis-oriented practices, including methods for effective triage and the standards for handling violent or suicidal Veterans safely.
Practical knowledge of Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior techniques.
Practical knowledge of group dynamics and ability to facilitate self-help and educational groups by soliciting input from Veterans on their strengths and interests.
Understanding on how ethnicity, race, spirituality, gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, and local community and other subcultures may influence recovery.
Skilled in using oral and written communication to teach and engage in problem solving and conflict resolution.
Familiarity with eligibility requirements for various Veteran service programs.
Duties and Responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following:
Participate in the service, training, consultation, and other professional activities of VA health care services and function as a fully vested member of the multidisciplinary team. In consultation with the supervisor, complete assignments based on peer support knowledge and recognition by others of demonstrated skill and proven sound judgment.
Work with Veterans with very complex mental illnesses and challenging situations that require effective communication and decision-making skills.
Serve as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for effective wellness and holistic, recovery-based services that aid Veterans in daily living.
Orient new Veterans to the programs’ services, hours, locations, staff, and other pertinent information necessary for the Veterans to understand how to effectively utilize the program services.
Assist Veterans to articulate personal recovery goals using individual or group meetings. During these meetings, assists Veterans in identifying their skills, strengths, supports, and resources needed to aid them in achieving their recovery goals.
Collaborates with Veterans and the treatment team to develop and implement a personal wellness and recovery plan.
Assist Veterans in determining the steps needed to achieve their self-directed recovery goals and wellness.
Utilize recovery tools to coach Veterans on relevant skills needed for self-management of their health condition(s) and pursuit of their personal wellness.
Monitors progress and assists with the execution of the recovery and wellness plan, makes timely reports of progress, and presents new areas of concern to the treatment team.
Contribute to the development of an effective discharge plan.
Observe behaviors that might indicate difficulty adapting or responding to treatment (e.g., missed assessment appointments, failure to attend or maintain abstinence, risk to self or others, disruptive behavior), complete appropriate documentation, and report concerns to the treatment team in a timely manner.
Use 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 Veterans to share their experiences.