Peer Professional Onboarding Checklist

This is a worksheet from the Peer Professional Employer Toolkit.

Instructions: Print and use this checklist to guide onboarding during the first 30 days after hire.

 Initial relationship building:

• Welcome the peer professional and introduce them to staff across programs, roles, and leadership levels.
• Allow time for meaningful introductions that encourage relationship building.
• Reinforce that lived experience is valued professional expertise.

 Orientation to the organization:

• Provide an overview of the organization’s vision, mission, and services (see organizational policies development in the preparation phase).
• Describe how peer recovery support services fit within service operations.
• Review how peer recovery support services are requested, initiated, and coordinated with participant service plans.
• Clarify peer professional-specific documentation processes.

 Supervision:

• Meet with the peer professional on day one and begin building the supervisory alliance.
• Review scope of practice, job description, responsibilities, and expectations.
• Clarify the complementary role of peer recovery support services on the team.
• Discuss how recovery principles will inform service delivery.
• Provide access to the employee handbook, discuss workplace expectations, and identify peer professional-specific policies.
• Establish a consistent supervision schedule.
• Focus of sessions should balance orientation to administrative tasks (example: review documentation standards, confidentiality requirements) with initial professional development discussions (scope of practice, ethical practice, role clarity, coordination with other services).
• Gradually begin service participant assignments. Review initial experiences and make adjustments, as needed.
• Continue discussions about scope, boundaries, and role clarity.

 Teaming:

• Introduce the peer professional to the team following staff readiness work.
• Facilitate open conversation about workplace dynamics, team collaboration, and role clarity.
• Address questions to support shared understanding of the peer professional role.
• Complete teaming integration activity in the action section.
• Address early questions or concerns related to role, teaming, or service delivery.

 Access to support:

• Connect the peer professional with internal peer professional co-workers, if available.
• Provide information on external peer networks and supports if no internal peer professionals are available.
• Encourage continued connection with peer supports and professional networks.