FEP Program Director

JOB SUMMARY:

The First Episode Psychosis (FEP) Program Director provides administrative and clinical leadership and strategic oversight for the Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) program, operating in alignment with the EPI-NC model established by the NC Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services (NCDHHS). This role ensures evidence-based, patient-centered care, aligning program operations with MAHEC’s mission and quality goals. This role is responsible for ensuring the program delivers recovery-oriented care to young people and their families experiencing a first episode of psychosis, with fidelity to the NAVIGATE model and compliance with applicable NC Medicaid, CCBHC, and FQHC standards.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the ongoing operations of the CSC/FEP program in accordance with EPI-NC requirements and NAVIGATE model fidelity standards, including policies, workflows, scheduling, and caseload management across all service components (IRT, SEE, family education, medication management, and case management).
• Provides direct supervision, coaching, and performance management for multidisciplinary CSC staff, including therapists, peer support specialists, supported employment and education staff, care coordinators, and other team members.
• Oversees onboarding, competency development, and ongoing training of team members to ensure adherence to EPI-NC standards and evidence-based practices.
• Serve as primary organizational liaison to the NC EPI-NC network, including participation in state-level learning collaboratives, fidelity reviews, and data reporting; ensure program infrastructure supports integration with primary care and CCBHC services.
• Maintain up to date clinical process guidelines relevant to the clinical Program.

• Coordinate with the Psychiatry Department on the development of onboarding and ongoing training using EPI-NC and NAVIGATE resources.
• Primarily complete intake assessments for referrals.
• Maintain caseload of therapy patients within the program.
• Provide direct clinical oversight for clinical care, management workflows, transitions of care, and high-risk patient interventions.

• Monitor program fidelity to EPI-NC and NAVIGATE standards; lead quality improvement activities using outcomes measures (e.g., BPRS, BASIS-24, employment/education status, hospitalization rates) and develop corrective action plans as needed.
• Oversee clinical documentation and billing standards for Medicaid, CCBHC per-diem, and Tailored Plan compliance; ensure credentialing and scope-of-practice requirements are met for all team members.

• Monitor clinical outcomes, utilization, and equity indicators; lead PDSA cycles for continuous improvement.
• Build and sustain referral pathways with emergency departments, inpatient units, primary care, schools, and community organizations; develop family psychoeducation programming and represent the organization in regional coalitions and LME-MCO/Tailored Plan forums.
• Partner with peer support networks and lived-experience advocates to shape program design, public education, and evaluation efforts.
• Build relationships with hospitals, community agencies, and regional partners to enhance care coordination and access.

• Manage program budget and contribute to grant applications, program development proposals, and strategic planning related to early psychosis services.
• Participate in CCBHC and FQHC quality reporting, UDS measures, and accreditation preparation; identify and pursue opportunities for program expansion and sustainability.
• Align program goals with MAHEC’s strategic priorities, payer requirements, and quality metrics.

This role description is a general description of the essential job functions.  It is not intended to describe all the duties the Behavioral Health Manager may perform.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

Communication Skills

Effectively and respectably communicate with other individuals, whether it be a colleague, patient, or patient’s family member and appropriately enumerate information in a manner easily understood by all parties. We do this to foster a culture of understanding between all parties, especially in complex and difficult situations, to ultimately provide the best care possible to our patients and their families.

Decision Making

Ability to make the most appropriate decision in a given situation and then taking the next steps to ensure appropriate and timely completion. This requires conflict resolution skills, critical thinking skills, confidence in your ability to make the right decision in most situations. This also includes ability to prio