Veteran Peer Support Specialist II

Volunteers-of-Americ; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Retirement benefits

Job summary

Volunteers of America Los Angeles is seeking staff for on-site support services focusing on veterans and housing stability. The role involves accompanying participants to appointments, facilitating recovery plans, and coordinating with VA and local housing programs.

Requirements include fingerprint clearance, TB screening, BLS certification within 15 days, and completion of mandatory trainings within 30 days of hire. Beneficial background includes military service or related recovery experience.

Qualifications

• Must pass fingerprint clearance and background checks.
• TB screening and immunization records within 5 days of hire.
• Current BLS certification within 15 days of hire.
• Completion of required trainings within 30 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• On-site service delivery to participants.
• Accompany participants to appointments, housing searches, and VA sessions.
• Assist in developing recovery plans with participants and team.
• Help participants form and join self-help groups.
• Coordinate with County CES, VA, and SPA systems.
• Report to VPAN Squad Leader and support housing/employment goals.

Skills

Fingerprint clearance

Background check

TB screening

BLS Certification

Ability to work under stress

Education

High school diploma

VA Peer Certification training (2-week)

75 hours trainings (evidence-based)

Job description

Career Opportunities with Volunteers of America Los Angeles

A great place to work.

Careers At Volunteers of America Los Angeles

Current job opportunities are posted here as they become available.

Helping Our Most Vulnerable Change Their Life Stories

Volunteers of America is a non‑profit human services organization committed to serving people in need, strengthening families, and building communities. VOALA provides a variety of social services to Los Angeles area communities such as Head Start programs, Upward Bound college prep programs, veterans’ services, homeless shelters, low‑income housing program as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Learn more at www.voala.org .

PAY RATE:

$23.11- $24.33 Per Hour

BENEFITS:

VOALA offers competitive medical, dental, vision and retirement benefits.

• Share personal experiences, skills, strengths, ongoing support and resource referral in recovery from mental health and/or substance abuse issues.
• Accompany participants to appointments and meetings, housing searches, voucher application/issuance sessions, and any other veteran‑centered activity.
• In coordination with the VPAN Squad Leader, assist participants in developing recovery plans with the skills, strengths, supports and resources to aid them in achieving goals and plans; work with case manager or treatment team in needed steps for self‑directed recovery (most often within the home of the Veteran)
• Assist participants with setting up and sustaining self‑help (mutual support) groups and with locating and joining existing groups
• Acts as reference source for client to legal, community, social service, and administrative bodies as needed; facilitates support groups and client participation
• Assist VPAN Squad Leader with helping the participants identify and eliminate barriers and maintain employment/housing/sobriety
• Performs integration with the County’s Coordinated Entry System for housing (CES), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and other Service Planning Area (SPA) based systems

ESSENTIAL ABILITY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Ability to work and deal with difficult, uncooperative, and potentially aggressive clients as VOALA serves the neediest of the needy in our programs, which may include clients with homelessness, mental illness, substance abuse, recently released from incarceration, and other challenges.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Services for this position must be provided on‑site. As a result, the position requires incumbents to report to work on‑site each day of active employment.
• Accompany participants in efforts to obtain benefits from various veteran and community support programs.
• Refer clients to legal, community, social service, and administrative bodies as needed
• Monitor assigned participants in the execution of recovery/service plan(s), to include home visits.
• Work with clients to remove barriers to full participation in aid programs.
• Monitoring support groups
• Learning functions of VPAN Squad Leader
• Perform integration with the County’s Coordinated Entry System for housing (CES), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and other Service Planning Area (SPA) based systems
• Other duties as required and may be subject to change

MANDATED REPORTER

As service providers to the underprivileged and vulnerable in our community, all employees are considered Mandated Reporters, and must report any instance of physical or sexual abuse to proper authorities.

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance, background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment and education verifications
• Current TB screening and Immunization Records (within 5 days of hire)
• Copy of Current Professional License (if applicable)
• Current BLS Certification (within 15 days of hire)
• Completion of all required trainings (within 30 days of hire)
• Ability to perform under circumstances of possible emotional stress and conflicts dealing with difficult, uncooperative, and potentially aggressive clients as VOALA serves the neediest of the needy in our programs which may include clients with homelessness, mental-illness, substance abuse, recently released from incarceration and other challenges.

EDUCATION:

• High school diploma (or GED/High School Equivalence Certificate)
• All VPAN staff must complete 75 hours of evidence‑based training(s) The training will include but not limited to:
  • Veteran Administration Approved Peer Certification
  • Risk Mitigation
  • The Veteran Family Peer Navigator model training provided by UCLA
• Within 90 days of hire attend and complete 2-week VA Peer Certification training

EXPERIENCE:

• At least one year of experience providing social services or similar leadership / volunteer / service experience
• Personal Military experience, or experience in recovery from mental health and/or substance abuse issues, or experience in homelessness and reintegration

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Military background and/or have had immediate family member(s) who served in the U.S. military strongly preferred
• Current California driver's license and clean driving record

Volunteers of America is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

This employer participates in E-Verify as required by the federal government and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment