Job Information
San Mateo County, CA Mental Health Program Specialist - Correctional Health Services (Departmental Promotional Only) in United States
Mental Health Program Specialist - Correctional Health Services (Departmental Promotional Only)
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Mental Health Program Specialist - Correctional Health Services (Departmental Promotional Only)
Salary
$121,451.20 - $151,798.40 Annually
Location
County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type
Full-Time
Job Number
G081CA
Department
Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Opening Date
03/27/2026
Closing Date
4/10/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit
08
Description
Benefits
Questions
Description
San Mateo County Health is seeking an experienced Mental Health Program Specialist to lead and coordinate forensic mental health services within the Correctional Health Services (CHS) Division.
This role oversees program operations and supervises a small team of professionals providing mental health and substance use services to incarcerated individuals. The Specialist partners with internal teams, the Sheriff’s Office, courts, and community providers to ensure high-quality, coordinated care.
This position is based in Redwood City at the Maguire Correctional Facility and Maple Street Correctional Center.
About Correctional Health Services (CHS):
CHS delivers integrated medical, dental, mental health, and substance use treatment services to incarcerated adults, as well as care for youth in juvenile hall. CHS offers a meaningful opportunity to support patient health, safety, and stability during incarceration.
Key Responsibilities
The Mental Health Program Specialist will:
Lead the planning, implementation, and evaluation of forensic mental health services
Develop and maintain policies and procedures aligned with NCCHC, Title 15, Title 24, CalAIM, and other regulatory standards
Supervise, train, and support multidisciplinary staff, including providing clinical and group supervision
Deliver direct mental health services, including crisis intervention and 5150 evaluations
Coordinate care across multidisciplinary teams, including medical staff, psychiatry, courts, contractors, and community providers
Support CalAIM implementation, staff training, and system improvements
Monitor program performance by compiling data, tracking outcomes, and preparing reports
Participate in leadership meetings to support program strategy, operations, and continuous improvement
Assist with recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and staff development
Provide on-call support as needed
The ideal candidate will bring:
Experience providing mental health and substance use treatment in a correctional or forensic setting
Strong knowledge of co-occurring disorders and evidence-based practices
Demonstrated ability to supervise and support multidisciplinary, diverse teams
Strong leadership skills with the ability to drive quality improvement, solve complex problems, and manage conflict
Experience in program development, staff training, and systems-level thinking
Excellent communication skills and the ability to build partnerships across agencies, including law enforcement and community organizations
Strong organizational skills with the ability to balance strategic priorities and operational details
Knowledge of San Mateo County systems of care, community resources, and regulatory requirements (e.g., HIPAA, CFR 42, NCCHC, CalAIM)
Experience with Medi-Cal documentation and charge capture
Ability to maintain accurate data and track program outcomes
Experience working with diverse populations
Bilingual Spanish skills (preferred)
Experience working with law enforcement and/or in correctional settings
NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.
Examples Of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
Coordinating services with internal programs, contract providers, and community agencies
Ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations governing mental health services
Monitoring contract providers and resolving service delivery challenges
Providing consultation to public agencies and community partners
Evaluating program effectiveness and integrating changes in legislation into operations
Preparing reports, program evaluations, and grant proposals
Supervising and evaluating staff performance
Qualifications
Security Clearance:
This position requires that the applicant obtain and maintain a security clearance as a condition of employment.
Licensure/Certification:
California license as one of the following: 1) Clinical Social Worker; 2) Marriage and Family Therapist; or 3) Clinical Psychologist
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 three years of experience as a Mental Health professional.
Knowledge of:
Principles, techniques and practices of program management and delivery.
Principles and practices of employee supervision and training.
Applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations and County policies and guidelines.
Psychological diagnostic methods and terminology.
Current principles and practices of psychiatric casework.
Human and health services systems in the County including private agencies and other community resources.
Various methods used in individual and group therapies such as role playing, play, art and milieu.
Methods and techniques used in mental health education.
Skill/Ability to:
Plan, assign, supervise, review and evaluate the work of interdisciplinary subordinates.
Train staff in work procedures and provide technical and programmatic assistance to staff and subcontractors.
Analyze, interpret and apply various regulations, requirements and/or clinical approaches.
Prepare grant proposals and written reports.
Set realistic treatment goals and facilitate their attainment.
Evaluate patients/clients’ degree of mental disability or emotional distress.
Communicate effectively in writing and orally and make public presentations as needed.
Establish and maintain effective and cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
Exercise sound independent judgment within general policy and regulatory guidelines.
Application/Examination
Departmental Promotional Only. Only current County of San Mateo employees in San Mateo County Health with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date may apply.
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 the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.
Tentative Recruitment Timeline
Final Filing Date: Friday, April 10, 2026, at 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: Week of April 13, 2026
Panel Interviews: Week of April 27, 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 in order 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.
Talent Acquisition Contact: Priscilla Bermudez (032726) (Mental Health Program Specialist – G081)
We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance (https://www.smcgov.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/Benefits%20at%20a%20Glance%204.29.25.pdf) page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)
In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.
As a County employee, you’ll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01
IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants must submit responses to the supplemental questions below. These responses are a critical part of the evaluation process and will be carefully reviewed by subject matter experts. Responses should be clear, detailed, and concise, describing your relevant work experience, training, and education as they relate to this position. Please address all parts of each question and provide specific examples that reflect your individual experience and expertise. Strong responses are authentic, well-organized, and demonstrate attention to detail, clarity of expression, and the ability to follow instructions. A resume will not be accepted in place of the required responses.
I have read and understand this important information. Proceed to supplemental questions.
02
This recruitment is Departmental Promotional Only. Only current County of San Mateo employees in the San Mateo County Health 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 may apply. Are you currently a San Mateo County Health employee in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date with at least 1040 hours of continuous service? (A "No" answer will disqualify you from this recruitment.)
Yes
No
03
This position requires completing an extensive security clearance package, undergoing and passing a thorough background check conducted by the Sheriff's Department prior to starting in position. The successful candidate must receive clearance to work in a locked correctional facility.
I have read and understand this important information.
04
This position requires possession of a valid California license as one of the following: 1) Clinical Social Worker; 2) Marriage and Family Therapist; or 3) Clinical Psychologist. Do you possess a valid California clinical license in psychology, social work, or marriage and family therapy? (Please include information on the Certificates & Licenses section of the application. A "No" answer will disqualify you from this recruitment.)
Yes
No
05
The ideal candidate has at least two years of post-licensure experience, which supports the ability to provide clinical supervision to licensed and license-eligible staff. How long have you been licensed as a Clinical Social Worker, Marriage & Family Therapist, or Clinical Psychologist?
Two years or more
One year or more but less than two years
Six months or more but less than one year
Less than six months
06
Fluency (speak, read, write) in Spanish is preferred but NOT required for this position. Are you fluent in Spanish? (A "No" answer to this question will NOT disqualify you from this recruitment.)
Yes
No
07
Describe your direct clinical experience with clients having a) serious mental health, b) serious emotional disturbance, c) substance use, and d) co-occurring conditions. Include the settings in which you provided these services (e.g., correctional, inpatient, crisis response), your role, types of interventions used, and the outcomes of your work. Be specific.
08
Describe your experience providing clinical supervision to mental health staff and/or interns. Include your approach to supervision, the types of staff you have supervised, and a specific example of how you addressed a performance issue, including the outcome. Be specific.
09
Describe your experience providing clinical services for culturally diverse populations. Include specific examples of how you adapted your approach to meet clients’ cultural and/or linguistic needs. If applicable, describe how you have used bilingual skills in service delivery.
10
How did you learn about this position?
County of San Mateo Website
County of San Mateo Job Interest Card Notification
County Hosted Virtual Event
County Hosted Job Fair
CalOpps.org
Civic Match
College/University Career Center
Community-based Organization Posting
Facebook/Instagram
Friend or Relative
GovernmentJobs.com
Indeed
Job Fair
LinkedIn
Professional Publication/Website (Please specify in next question)
X (formerly called Twitter)
Zip Recruiter
Other (Please specify in next question)
11
If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.
Required Question
Employer
County of San Mateo
Address
County of San Mateo Human Resources Department 500 County Center, 4th Floor Redwood City, California, 94063-1663
Phone
(650) 363-4343
Website
https://jobs.smcgov.org
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