Peer Support Specialist Onboarding

Welcome to EPI-NC First Episode Psychosis Programs!

We are glad you joined the team and hope this will help you navigate your understanding of FEP, CSC, and the role of EPI-NC. Please, ask questions and let us know what you need to best adjust.

First, please contact epi_nc@unc.edu in order to gain access to the EPI-NC Teams folder. The first step in onboarding will be to completing the items on the “General Onboarding” tab on this site.

Initial Orientation and Training

• Overview of basics of FEP and CSC
• Guided overview of multidisciplinary coordinated care model (about one hour): Perhaps provided by their team lead (with materials that we provide to facilitate) or by EPI-NC staff (i.e. who do we serve, what is psychosis and FEP, why is intervening early important, what is CSC, etc.).
  • Training Link 
  • Understanding Psychosis
  • Psychosis outside the box
  • Hear from others with psychosis 
  • Voices of Recovery: 24 Vignettes with Peers and Families 
  • Youth Mental Health Peer Support 101 
  • The Touch of Madness, and interview with Dr. Nev Jones
  • Hear from Others with Psychosis
• Peer Support Specialist’s Roles and Responsibilities
  • OnTrack Peer Specialist Manual
  • Role within CSC team – interacting with other team members, peers, family, etc.
  • Intentional Peer Support for FEP (overview and in-depth training)
  • Programmatic Knowledge Topics include:
    • EPI-Nc Fidelity Guideline Criteria
• Attend EPI-NC PSS Trainings by PSS Coordinator – Alabama Stone
  • PSS Specific Knowledge and Skills
    • History of PSS
    • Scope of Practice
    • Boundaries
    • Relationship Building
    • NC Code of Ethics for PSS
    • NC Service Definition of PSS
    • Illness Story vs Recover Story
    • Do’s and Don’ts of Disclosure
    • Self-Care for PSS
    • Supervision & Support & Documentation
  • Programmatic Knowledge topics include:
    • EPI-NC Fidelity Guideline Criteria

Ongoing Consultation and Training

• Biweekly PSS Peer to Peer Supervision/Continuing Education (Facilitated by PSS Director)
• Individual meetings with PSS Director as needed
• Trainings via EPI-NC (Copeland Center, PSS Speaker Series, etc.) and ongoing consultation, as appropriate
• Utilize links to other materials of potential interest (EPI-NC website)
• Project ECHO