Community Mental Health Nurse - Behavioral Health & Recovery Services (Open & Promotional)

Community Mental Health Nurse

San Mateo County Health's Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) Division is seeking an experienced Community Mental Health Nurse to join the South County Adult Outpatient Clinic. This is an opportunity to provide recovery-oriented, trauma-informed psychiatric nursing care as part of a collaborative interdisciplinary team serving adults with serious mental illness.

Located in Redwood City, the South County Adult Outpatient Clinic serves the vibrant and diverse communities of southern San Mateo County, providing specialty mental health services to adults with serious mental illness and significant functional impairments. The clinic serves Medi-Cal beneficiaries as well as individuals without medical insurance.

The interdisciplinary team includes psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, Psychiatric Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, Mental Health Counselors, and Peer Specialists who work collaboratively to support clients' treatment, recovery, and overall well-being.

The Community Mental Health Nurse provides psychiatric nursing services, medication support, and clinical case management in partnership with clients and the interdisciplinary treatment team. Responsibilities include medication counseling and monitoring, reviewing laboratory results, administering long-acting injectable medications, coordinating care, linking clients with community resources and social supports, and responding to clients experiencing a crisis.

The nurse collaborates closely with psychiatrists, primary and specialty care providers, hospitals, community-based organizations, family members, and other partners to support clients in achieving their treatment and recovery goals.

The position also supports clinic operations by responding to urgent nursing needs, providing Office of the Day coverage, and assisting with medication services for clients outside of the assigned caseload as needed. In addition, the nurse may participate in BHRS workgroups, committees, and advisory councils focused on nursing practice, medication management, and quality improvement.

Candidates have the opportunity to receive a sign-on bonus of up to $15,000. First-time external new hires, or current staff promoted internally or from other County departments into a regular Community Mental Health Nurse position at Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) may be eligible to receive a sign-on bonus of up to $15,000 (subject to discontinuation at any time). The sign-on bonus will be in 3 phases and will be prorated for part-time positions. Restrictions Apply. Please see link for details.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• A master's degree in nursing and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC) are highly desirable.
• Significant experience providing long-term, community-based psychiatric nursing services to adults with serious mental illness (SMI), preferably in an outpatient community mental health setting.
• Demonstrated success working in voluntary treatment settings, where clients have greater autonomy in determining which treatment recommendations and services, they choose to engage in.
• Strong skills in client engagement, shared decision-making, motivational approaches, and recovery-oriented care, with the ability to partner with clients over time to support individualized treatment and recovery goals.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain therapeutic relationships while respecting professional boundaries, client autonomy, and individual choice in treatment and recovery.
• Experience providing psychiatric nursing, medication administration and monitoring, care coordination, and clinical case management to adults with complex behavioral health, medical, and co-occurring substance use needs.
• Knowledge of psychopharmacology, psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery principles, and medical conditions commonly associated with serious mental illness.
• Strong assessment and clinical judgment skills, including the ability to identify changes in psychiatric or physical health, provide crisis intervention, and coordinate appropriate services while supporting clients' independence in the community.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary treatment team and coordinate effectively with psychiatrists, medical providers, families, hospitals, community-based organizations, and other partners.
• Adaptable and flexible, with a willingness to provide cross-location clinic coverage as needed to support BHRS clients and changing program needs.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and documentation skills, with the ability to effectively prioritize competing responsibilities and respond to changing client and clinic needs.
• Ability to provide culturally responsive care and work effectively with clients, families, and communities from diverse backgrounds.
• Bilingual Spanish skills (speaking, reading, and writing) are highly desirable.

The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide medication support, including administering prescribed psychiatric injectable medications, providing medication education, documenting responses, and maintaining accurate medication lists.
• Review client laboratory results and respond to critical findings as appropriate.
• Conduct biopsychosocial interviews and participate in client assessments.
• Develop treatment plans in partnership with clients and the interdisciplinary treatment team.
• Provide clinical case management, including linkage and referrals to community programs, social support, and services addressing housing, financial, and other psychosocial needs.
• Coordinate and collaborate with members of the client's treatment team, including primary and specialty care providers, private providers, hospitals, and community-based organizations.
• Provide crisis intervention, assess client needs, and connect clients with appropriate resources and levels of care.
• Observe, document, and report clinically significant changes in clients' physical or mental health.
• Provide health and mental health education and psychoeducation to clients and families.
• Participate in client and program conferences, staff development, and professional growth activities.
• Participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of mental health programs and services.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

License/Certification: California license as a Registered Nurse.

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

Bachelor's degree in nursing and one year of nursing experience in outpatient community mental health setting.

Knowledge of:

• Current psychiatric nursing practices including psychopharmacology and the medical issues associated with serious mental illness and related medical theory.
• Behavioral health needs of adults with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders.
• Principles of psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery.
• Principles of hygiene, nutrition, parenting and related health practices.
• Social and physical aspects of mental and emotional disturbances.
• Community resources available for treatment of clients.
• Current nursing and related medical therapy.
• Laws that govern psychiatric mental health nursing and the treatment of adults diagnosed with mental illness.
• Principles of psychiatric rehabilitation.

Skill/Ability to:

• Provide individual and group skill-based psychoeducation.
• Work in an outpatient community mental health setting and within a multidisciplinary team as a direct service provider.
• Engage, establish, and maintain productive working relationships with families and consumers.
• Apply the techniques used in individual and group therapy.
• Develop and evaluate creative approaches to the assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation for individuals with severe emotional problems and serious mental illness.
• Obtain and record social, physical, educational, and work histories.
• Write clear, accurate and concise reports.
• Conduct group and individual coaching and support.
• Establish and maintain the confidence and cooperation of clients.
• Speak effectively before groups.

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in the County of San Mateo, California and applicants must participate at their own expense. IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on