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

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. 

BHRS South County Adult Outpatient Clinic

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.

Community Mental Health Nurse

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.

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/.

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. 

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