Supervising Mental Health Psychologist (Department Promotional Only)

Full Job Description

San Mateo Medical Center's Department of Psychiatry is seeking an experienced Supervising Mental Health Psychologist for the Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) clinic. The successful candidate will assist and consult to medical, nursing, and administrative staff; provide direct clinical services; supervise trainees and licensed staff; conduct trainings and quality improvement activities; and collect and report related clinical and financial data.

The Integrated Behavioral Health clinic functions as an embedded component of the Medical Center's clinics and inpatient units to ensure that patients receive high-quality primary care behavioral health and related services. Working side-by-side with medical providers, nurses, and other staff, the IBH team addresses psychological distress, psychiatric symptoms, health behavior change, substance abuse, neurocognitive functioning, acculturation concerns, and other mild to moderate mental health issues. IBH currently offers services in the largest adult primary care clinics in the Medical Center system as well as in the acute and long-term inpatient units at the San Mateo campus.

The Supervising Mental Health Psychologist is the lead clinician for psychology and psychotherapy services provided by Integrated Behavioral Health. The position supervises the clinic’s staff psychologists, psychology post-doctoral fellows and support staff in their day-to-day clinical and administrative duties, in matters such as patient assignment, caseload, scheduling, and billing. In collaboration with the Medical Director and staff psychiatrists, the position participates in development of programs and protocols. The position also provides clinical supervision and teaching for trainees, develops and conducts staff training programs and quality improvement activities, and participates in several hospital-wide programs.

Clinical duties include consultation to members of the patient care team as well as direct patient care, including individual and group psychotherapy, psychological assessments and interventions, community outreach and education and psycho-diagnostic testing. Clinical issues commonly of concern include health behavioral changes, adjustment to physical health conditions, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, trauma, life circumstance issues, cognitive impairments, impediments to adherence to medical treatment, difficulties in social functioning, and acculturation matters.

The ideal candidate will have five or more years of experience in the field of primary care behavioral health and prior supervisory experience. In addition to broad knowledge and experience in psychological assessment and evidence-based clinical care, the ideal candidate will have a thorough knowledge of health care delivery systems; medical and neurocognitive conditions and treatment modalities; trauma-related disorders and their treatments; and integrated health care. Experience with multi-cultural and linguistic diverse populations is strongly preferred. The ideal candidate will also have at least two years of experience of in supervision and training of psychology trainees. The successful candidate must meet San Mateo Medical Center educational and training requirements for medical staff privileges in clinical psychology and psychological diagnostic testing at the time of hire.

The Supervising Mental Health Psychologist reports to and is directly supervised by the Department of Psychiatry Medical Director.

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:

• Function as the Unit Chief, and plan, assign, train, and supervise the work of a group of inter-disciplinary mental health professionals and trainees.
• Plan, implement, and coordinate all unit-related activity.
• Participate in administrative staff meetings to formulate overall program plans and review ongoing operations.
• Establish and maintain program procedures which are consistent with federal, state, and local laws governing mental health services.
• Monitor and consult with contract providers to ensure compliance with services requested by the County and to help determine jointly beneficial solutions to problem areas.
• Maintain unit record and collect statistical data for routine, evaluative and research purposes.
• Research and prepare grant proposals for specific mental health projects.
• Lead clinical meetings for cooperative planning of treatment and accountable case disposition.
• Facilitate development of training program for staff and interns.
• Conduct psychological testing/assessment of individuals, couples, families; make diagnoses.
• Provide therapy and workshops for individuals and groups.
• Conduct case management functions.
• Maintain patient/client case documentation adhering to state and division policy and procedures.
• Provide crisis services and screening for new patients.
• Assist in discharge planning and provide follow-up care, counseling, information to patients and family members.
• Provide both client-centered and program-centered consultation to external agencies, institutions and individuals.
• Provide community education and information to external agencies, institutions, and individuals.
• Oversee units that are large, complex, or serve clients in unique situations.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Licensure/Certification:

• California license in Clinical Psychology.

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:

• Two years of professional post-doctoral experience in a mental health setting.

Knowledge of:

• Basic program management techniques and practices.
• Principles and practices of supervision and training.
• The human and health services system in the County including private agencies and their community resources.
• Current philosophy, principles, and practices for services to clients with serious mental illness.
• Current community mental health concepts, principles and procedures.
• Legal and policy aspects of community mental health methods.
• Techniques of family, individual, and group counseling and diagnosis.
• Individual, group and family psychodynamics.
• Current principles and practices of psychological evaluation.
• Mental health consultation and education.
• Problems, needs, attitudes and behavior patterns of patients/clients.

Skill/Ability to:

• Supervise, train and evaluate inter-disciplinary staff.
• Work collaboratively with other senior professionals in planning and developing programs of a geographic or service unit.
• Prepare and deliver written and oral reports.
• Plan, implement and evaluate all operations of a geographic or service unit.
• Provide treatment to adults and/or children-adolescents with various dysfunctions.
• Establish and maintain objective working relationships with clients/patients, other professionals, and the public.
• Evaluate degree of mental disability or emotional distress of patients/clients.

Additional Information

Departmental Promotional Only. Only current San Mateo County employees in the Health Department with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, SEIU or AFSCME represented extra-help/term position prior to the final filing date may apply.

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 above or below. 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.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Deadline to Apply: March 20, 2026 11:59 PM
Application Screening: March 25, 2026
Combined Panel/Department Interviews: April 8, 2026

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 (030626) (Supervising Mental Health Psychologist - F006)