Veteran Peer Support Specialist

Veteran Peer Support Specialist

Employment Type: Full-Time
FLSA Classification: Non- Exempt
Program: Veteran Connection and Suicide Prevention Program SSG Fox SPGP
Reports To: Program Director
Location: Orange Osceola and Seminole Counties Florida
Travel Requirements: Office setting Regular local travel throughout the service area
Compensation: $22.50 a/hr

Number of Positions Available: 2

Position Overview

Your military service gave you perspective no classroom can teach. Are you ready to use it to help another Veteran feel seen connected and hopeful The Transition House Inc. is seeking a Veteran Peer Support Specialist for our community-based Veteran Connection and Suicide Prevention Program.

This is a Veteran-to-Veteran non-clinical role centered on trust hope practical support and authentic human connection. You will engage Veterans who may be facing suicide risk isolation homelessness justice involvement behavioral-health or substance-use challenges financial instability or disconnection from traditional service systems.

This position requires lived experience as a Veteran. If you know how powerful it can be when one Veteran says to another I understand and you can pair that connection with boundaries follow-through and sound judgment we would like to meet you.

Why Join The Transition House

At The Transition House we believe strong teams create strong outcomes. Our work is centered on accountability rehabilitation and creating opportunities for people working toward stability and a stronger future.

Here you will have the opportunity to:

• Turn your lived military experience into meaningful peer connection and practical support for other Veterans.
• Help reduce isolation stigma and barriers that can keep Veterans from reaching the right support.
• Work alongside case managers outreach specialists VA partners families caregivers and community providers.
• Build specialized skills in Veteran suicide prevention warm handoffs crisis escalation and family engagement.
• Grow professionally through training supervision team consultation and opportunities to pursue peer certification.

What You Will Do

Build Trust Through Peer Connection

• Engage Veterans through one-to-one outreach relationship building and Veteran-to-Veteran peer support.
• Use lived experience thoughtfully and professionally to promote hope trust recovery connection and continued engagement.
• Maintain appropriate peer boundaries honor participant choice protect confidentiality and model professional conduct.

Connect Veterans to Support

• Help Veterans understand available VA TTHI and community resources and encourage participation in individualized service plans.
• Assist Veterans in overcoming practical or emotional barriers to services and accompany or support them during service linkage when appropriate.
• Conduct follow-up after referrals crisis events emergency-department visits release from incarceration housing transitions missed appointments or other periods of increased risk when assigned.
• Promote social connection by linking Veterans with Veteran-serving organizations community activities family supports caregiver resources and other positive natural supports.

Support Participant Safety

• After required training and demonstrated competency administer assigned VA-required suicide-risk baseline mental-health or wellbeing and other SSG Fox screening or outcome tools within the approved non-clinical scope of the role.
• Recognize and document suicide warning signs changes in risk participant statements or circumstances that may indicate increased risk and immediately initiate established escalation procedures.
• Coordinate immediately with the Program Director a Case Manager or Veteran Navigator VA or crisis-response resources whenever screening or participant contact identifies elevated or imminent risk.
• Support suicide-prevention education Veterans Crisis Line and 988 awareness and approved lethal-means safety education within the peer roles scope.

Engage Families and Natural Supports

• With participant consent engage family members caregivers and other Veteran-identified natural supports to strengthen connection reduce isolation and reinforce recovery or wellness goals.
• Provide non-clinical peer education on suicide warning signs Veterans Crisis Line and 988 resources help-seeking stigma reduction supportive communication and approved lethal-means safety information.
• Help families and caregivers understand available VA and community supports and coordinate with the Case Manager or Veteran Navigator when additional service coordination is needed.

Collaborate Document and Grow

• Work closely with Case Managers and Veteran Navigators to identify additional needs and communicate concerns requiring case-management supervisory VA or crisis intervention.
• Document peer and family contacts assigned screenings referrals follow-up safety concerns education and services in accordance with grant consent and confidentiality requirements.
• Participate in community outreach Veteran engagement activities case reviews supervision team meetings and required training.

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• Lived experience as a Veteran is required for this Veteran-to-Veteran peer-support role.
• Ability to use lived experience appropriately and professionally to support other Veterans.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal communication engagement relationship-building and follow-through skills.
• Ability to work independently in community settings while maintaining appropriate peer boundaries.
• Ability to recognize concerns that require escalation to case-management supervisory VA crisis or emergency resources.
• Ability and willingness to complete required training and demonstrate competency in VA-required suicide-prevention screening and related program tools.
• Sound judgment and respect for participant choice consent confidentiality and professional conduct.

Licenses and Travel

• Valid drivers license and ability to travel regularly throughout Orange and Osceola Counties and the surrounding service area.

Preferred Background

We especially welcome Veterans who are Certified Peer Specialists or are eligible and willing to pursue peer certification. Experience in Veteran peer support Veteran-serving programs behavioral-health or substance-use recovery homelessness housing reentry family or caregiver support or community outreach is strongly valued. Familiarity with VA and Central Florida Veteran resources is also preferred. Peer certification is preferred not required at hire.

Required Training and Competencies

The selected candidate must complete required training and demonstrate competency in:

• TTHI onboarding and SSG Fox SPGP requirements including confidentiality documentation participant safety trauma-informed care Veteran-specific service delivery VA coordination warm handoffs crisis escalation and family or support-system engagement.
• Administering scoring documenting and responding to VA-required suicide-risk screening baseline mental-health or wellbeing screening and other assigned SSG Fox tools.
• Immediate escalation referral warm-handoff and emergency-response procedures whenever elevated or imminent suicide risk is identified. Standardized screening does not replace clinical evaluation. Applicable VA training and ongoing professional development are required.

Work Environment

This position includes work in office community partner and outreach settings throughout Osceola and Orange Counties along with routine use of standard office technology and secure electronic documentation systems. The role involves regular interaction with Veterans family members caregivers VA contacts community providers and TTHI team members as well as local travel and occasional community events.

Schedule Expectations

This position generally operates during standard business hours. Participant and outreach needs may occasionally require schedule flexibility including evenings or weekends for participant needs community events follow-up training or other time-sensitive responsibilities.

Benefits

Eligible employees may receive:

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off

Wellness days

Professional-development assistance

Employee discount programs

Employee-referral incentives

Flexible scheduling opportunities where operationally feasible

Our Culture

At The Transition House employee mental health and wellbeing are priorities. We work to create a culture of collaboration accountability professional growth and balance between work and home life. By providing employees with the same supportive hand we extend to the people we serve we create stronger outcomes for Veterans families and communities.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Transition House Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications merit and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race religion color sex gender identity sexual orientation age non-disqualifying disability national origin veteran status or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal state or local law.

Background Screening Requirement

Employment with The Transition House may require background screening through the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. Applicants may obtain additional information at .

ADA Accommodation Statement

The Transition House is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment and employment process. Applicants who require an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process should contact Human Resources.

Required Experience:

IC