Community Mental Health Nurse - Behavioral Health & Recovery Services

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 in Redwood City. This role provides recovery-oriented, trauma-informed psychiatric nursing care as part of a collaborative interdisciplinary team serving adults with serious mental illness.

About the Clinic

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.

Responsibilities

• Provide medication support, including administering prescribed psychiatric injectable medications, 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.
• Support 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.
• Participate in BHRS workgroups, committees, and advisory councils focused on nursing practice, medication management, and quality improvement.

Requirements

• California license as a Registered Nurse.
• 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.
  • One year of nursing experience in an outpatient community mental health setting.

Qualifications

• 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 treatment recommendations and services.
• Strong skills in client engagement, shared decision-making, motivational approaches, and recovery-oriented care.
• 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.
• 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.

Skills

• 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.

Benefits

Candidates may be eligible for a sign-on bonus of up to $15,000. The sign-on bonus is available to 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). The bonus is paid in 3 phases and is prorated for part-time positions. Restrictions apply.