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

Full Job Description

NOTE: This recruitment was amended on October 24, 2025 to update the vacancies.

San Mateo County Health's Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) Division has an exciting opportunity for an experienced psychiatric nurse to work in Behavioral Health and Recovery Services as a members of an interdisciplinary team. This position is located at our Central County Adult Outpatient Clinic in San Mateo, though may be assigned to conduct home and/or county-contracted facilities visits for assessment and follow-up purposes and provide a range of medical and psychosocial supports for adults with serious mental illness, co-occurring disorders and complex medical conditions. The Community Mental Health Nurse will conduct psychiatric assessments, care coordination, clinical case management services such as rehabilitation, linkage and brokerage, and medication support. This nurse will coordinate and collaborate with Psychiatric Emergency Services (PES), inpatient psychiatric hospitals and other locked placements, primary care providers, specialty providers, and other community resources to ensure a smooth transition and continuity of care.

Currently there is one full-time vacancy in our BHRS Central County Adult Clinic in San Mateo.

The BHRS Central County Adult Outpatient Clinic is located in our vibrant San Mateo County community rich in diversity and culture. The clinic is conveniently located off I-280, US-101 and Highway 92.

The clinic provides a full range of psychiatric treatment to adults with severe functional impairments due to a serious mental illness.

The clinic serves the diverse and dynamic central communities in the County. The clinic is open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Hybrid work options are available up to 2 days per week.

The Community Mental Health Nurse is a valuable member of an interdisciplinary team and will work collaboratively with MDs, LCSWs/MFTs, Mental Health Counselors and Peer Specialists to support the client in their journey of recovery.

As a Community Mental Health RN, you will be providing medication support and management, care coordination and health and wellness support to a caseload of adults with serious mental illness.

Exciting news! 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. https://jobs.smcgov.org/hiring-incentives/

Are you passionate about serving and making a difference in the community? Are you looking to join a progressive and committed healthcare department? Join Us!

• Master's degree in Psychiatric Nursing is preferred but not required.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining productive working relationships with families and consumers.
• Knowledge of current psychiatric nursing practice including psychopharmacology and the medical issues associated with serious mental illness.
• Knowledge of the behavioral health needs of adults with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders.
• Knowledge of the principles of psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery.
• Experience in providing individual and group skill-based psychoeducation.
• Experience working in an outpatient community mental health setting.
• Great organization skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional collaborative skills across roles and disciplines.
• Experience working within a multi-disciplinary team as a direct service provider.
• Minimum of one-year experience in outpatient community mental health setting is required.
• Bilingual Spanish skills preferred.

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

Requirements

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

Perform initial intake assessments and formulate diagnoses. Provide case management services.Conduct individual, group, and family therapy sessions.

Participate in diagnostic and treatment aspects of patient care with interdisciplinary care team; assess progress of clients on a selected basis and propose treatment plan modifications.Dispense, administer, and supervise clients' medication at home, in clinics, and/or in county-contracted facilities in San Mateo County and surrounding counties.

Establish and utilize knowledge of community resources for mentally or emotionally unstable clients. Interview patient and relatives to gather case history data.

Observe, record, and report clinically significant changes in the client's condition. Participate in individual client and program conferences, staff development, and professional growth activities.

Provide crisis intervention services including evaluating clients and referring clients to appropriate resources.

Conduct home and/or county-contracted facilities visits for assessment and follow-up purposes.

Provide physical and mental health information services on a formal or informal basis.Participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of mental health service programs.Provide psychoeducation to clients and families.Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications Education:Bachelor's degree in Nursing.Experience: One year of nursing experience in outpatient community mental health setting.Licensure/Certification:California license as a Registered Nurse.

Knowledge of: Current psychiatric nursing practices including psychopharmacology and the medical issues associated with serious mental illness.Knowledge of the behavioral health needs of adults with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders.Knowledge of the principles of psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery.Principles of hygiene, nutrition, parenting and health practices.Social and physical aspects of mental and emotional disturbances.Basic techniques and dynamics of individual and group therapy.Community resources available for treatment of clients.Laws that govern psychiatric mental health nursing and the treatment of the mentally ill.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 serious mental illness.Obtain and record social, medical, psychiatric, education and work histories.Write clear, accurate and concise reports.Conduct group and individual counseling.Establish and maintain the confidence and cooperation of clients.Speak effectively before groups.

Additional Information 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, Confidential and Management 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 will consist of an 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 a screening committee may select those applicants whose education and/or experience appear to best meet the needs of the position based solely on the information provided in the application materials.

Because of this screening process, all applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination.

All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, 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 the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply.

Responses to the supplemental questions must be submitted in addition to our regular employment application form.

A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.This is a continuous recruitment which may close at any time.

The final filing date will be posted 5 days in advance in the County of San Mateo Human Resources Department.Apply immediately.

This recruitment is open on a continuous basis and selections may be made at any time within the process.About the County San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay.

With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment.

The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer.

We seek to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community.

We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.Analyst: Carolyn Burns (052424) (Community Mental Health Nurse - F049)