Peer Support Apprentice - Facility Based

Veterans Health Administration; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 47,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration in Los Angeles seeks a Peer Support Apprentice - Facility Based to support the Center's mission and coordinate services for Veterans. The role involves collaboration with interdisciplinary teams and driving programmatic initiatives to empower Veterans in their communities.

Candidates should be prepared for in-person attendance in the West Los Angeles commuting area; a multi-grade career ladder and promotion potential are available.

Qualifications

• There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Responsibilities

• Supports National Center for Warrior Independence programs that enhance Veteran resilience and independent living.
• Coordinates, plans, and executes service delivery initiatives across healthcare and administrative service lines.
• Engages in outreach, partnership building, and communications to improve access and awareness of Veteran programs.
• Works with Veterans, staff and interdisciplinary teams through data gathering, scheduling, documentation, and workflow management.

Job description

Peer Support Apprentice - Facility Based

• Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

This Peer Specialist position may only be filled with a Veteran that meets statutory requirements that are detailed in the qualifications section. A recruitment/relocation incentive may be authorized for highly qualified applicants.

Key Responsibilities

This position plays a vital role in supporting the Center's mission to enhance Veteran independence through coordinated services, strategic outreach, and programmatic excellence. Ideal candidates are motivated, adaptable, and committed to improving Veteran outcomes through collaboration, innovation, and high-quality service delivery.

The role involves supporting interdisciplinary teams, managing key program functions, and helping drive initiatives that empower Veterans to thrive in their communities. Candidates who resides in the West Los Angeles commuting area will be required to attend in person.

Core duties may include: Supporting National Center for Warrior Independence programs that enhance Veteran resilience and promote independent living. Assisting with coordination, planning, and execution of service delivery initiatives across healthcare and administrative service lines. Engaging in outreach, partnership building, and communication efforts that improve access, awareness, and effectiveness of Veteran programs. Ensuring timely and accurate support to Veterans, staff, and interdisciplinary teams through data gathering, scheduling, documentation, and workflow management. Contributing to innovation and process improvements aimed at strengthening Veteran outcomes and operational success. The Peer Specialist functions as an interdisciplinary team member, assisting physicians and other professional/non-professional personnel in a rehabilitation treatment program. Peer specialists perform a variety of therapeutic and supportive tasks that include assisting Veterans in articulating their goals for recovery and personal wellness, 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 peer specialist's own recovery experience, and supporting them in advocating for themselves to obtain effective services.

Duties include, but not limited to the following: Participates in the service, training, consultation, and other professional activities of VA health care services and functions as a fully vested member of the multidisciplinary team. Uses personal recovery experiences to model coping techniques and recovery tolls to coach Veterans to relevant skills need for self-management of their health condition(s) and pursuit of their personal wellness.

Observes 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), completes appropriate documentation, and reports concerns to the treatment team in a timely manner.

Uses 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 Veteran to share their experiences. As necessary, handles crisis interventions for Veterans and addresses other emergent situations without the benefit of specific instructions. Informs Veterans about VA and community supports and resources, including how to effectively utilize them in the recovery and wellness process.

Maintains a working knowledge of current trends and developments in holistic approaches in wellness and recovery by reading books, journals, and other relevant materials. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Various tours of duty based on the needs of the service. Compressed/Flexible: May be available based on the needs of the service. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Peer Support Apprentice - Facility Based/PD99323s and PD99318s Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): not authorized Promotion Potential: This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Requirements & Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $47490 – $61738/yr.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a Other security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-10-16.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.