Public Health Nurse-Children & Family Services-Spanish-Speaking Required(Open & Promo)

Salary : $152,859.20 - $180,648.00 Annually
Location : County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: F040BS
Department: Family Health Services
Opening Date: 04/23/2025
Closing Date: 5/7/2025 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 25

Description
San Mateo County Health - Family Health Services is seeking two qualified and experienced Public Health Nurses for its Family Health Services Division: Children & Family Services/Foster Care Public Health Nurse Program. The current vacancies are two, regular, full-time vacancies. Please note, Fluency in Spanish is required.

The Public Health Nurse (PHN) in Children & Family Services attends to the health needs of neglected and abused children ages 0 to 21 years, specifically children in foster care. The PHN is assigned as the secondary case manager on cases and engages in consultation with social workers as well as mental health clinicians and physicians. This PHN will conduct home visits, make referrals to community and other agencies, coordinate care with hospitals and medical providers, provide anticipatory guidance for parents/guardians and foster parents, act as a resource for Children and Family Services' workers on medical and health-related issues, interpret medical records and make recommendations. In addition, this PHN will, upon social worker request, provide nursing recommendations to be included in court reports, and upon occasion, testify in court. This PHN will report to a Senior PHN and PHN Manager.

The ideal candidate has:

• Excellent case management and communication skills.
• A strong background in child growth and development.
• The ability to perform health and developmental assessments.
• The ability to recognize child abuse and neglect.
• The ability to work independently as well as within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Knowledge of the Child Welfare System and foster care.
• Public health and/or pediatric nursing experience.

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

• Assess children's health status through home visits, history taking, observation, and developmental screening tests using the nursing process.
• Monitor and help ensure children's health, dental, and developmental follow-up needs are met.
• Monitor and assist with oversight of children's medications, including psychotropic medications, by working with the children's psychiatrists, therapists, caregivers, and other providers and clinics.
• Assist social workers in managing children's health and medical needs through working with parents, foster parents, legal guardians, probation officers, and group homes.
• Counsel, teach, and coordinate health and social services provided to client/family.
• Document services and client's responses to services in the electronic record, CWS/CMS.
• Participate in defining and addressing community health needs through consultation, recruitment of providers, and development of resources.
• Participate in developing instructional materials.
• Keep statistical records and write reports.
• Assist clients with health/ medical needs, such as navigating systems or barriers to obtaining healthcare services, such as Medi-Cal issues.
• Link clients to medical, dental, and other community resources.
• Present training to, and collaborate with, physician offices and Resource Families.
• Participate on a multidisciplinary team.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Note: This position requires possession of a class C California driver license or the ability to provide suitable transportation (including public transportation), as approved by the appointing authority.

Qualifications

Licensure/Certification:

• California license as a Registered Nurse.
• California Certificate as a Public Health Nurse.

Education and Experience:

• Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of public health nursing, with emphasis on field and clinic activities.
• Problem solving through nursing process.
• Technical nursing procedures.
• Health and social services resources.
• Collaborative health planning with multi-disciplinary teams.

Skill/Ability to:

• Teach and counsel.
• Perform technical nursing procedures.
• Assess physical, psycho-social, and nutritional needs.
• Assess community health needs.
• Teach and guide other health personnel and volunteers.
• Motivate people in positive health attitudes and behavior.
• Work effectively with multi-problem families.
• Problem solve.
• Make independent judgments and work autonomously.
• Assume a leadership role in community health programs.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Be culturally sensitive.
• Be flexible to adapting to a changing environment.
• Organize communities regarding health matters.

Application/Examination
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, 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 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 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. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Final Filing Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 11:59 PM PSTApplication Screening: Week of May 7, 2025
Civil Service Panel/Departmental Interview: Week of May 19, 2025
About the CountySan 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.

San Mateo County is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.

Analyst: Debbie Kong (04232025) (Public Health Nurse - F040)
Please visit for a complete listing of all benefits for this classification.
Benefits are offered to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. All benefits are subject to change.
NOTE: Employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 may be subject to new Pension Reform retirement laws.

As an additional benefit, the County offers extensive training and development programs designed to improve skills and enhance career opportunities. Most programs are offered on County time at no cost to you.
County employees are also covered by the federal Social Security system and earn benefits for retirement based on salary and time worked.
01

IMPORTANT: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the following supplemental questions. Your responses will give us additional information about your background and experience related to this position and will be used in the selection process. Be concise and specific. Neatness, clarity of expression, grammar, spelling and ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses.

• Proceed to supplemental questions.

02

Possession of a current California license as a Registered Nurse is required to qualify for this recruitment. Do you possess a current California license as a Registered Nurse? (Please include your license number on the Certificates & Licenses section of the application. A "No" answer will disqualify you from this recruitment.)

• Yes
• No

03

Possession of a current California Certificate as a Public Health Nurse is required to qualify for this recruitment. Do you possess a California Certificate as a Public Health Nurse? (Please include your license number on the Certificates & Licenses section of the application. A "No" answer will disqualify you from this recruitment.)

• Yes
• No

04

Possession of a current and valid Basic Life Support Certificate (BLS) issued by the American Heart Association or a valid Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate issued by the American Red Cross is preferred for this recruitment or one must be obtained within six months of hire. Which of the following certifications do you possess? (Check all that apply. Please include information on the Certificates & Licenses section of the application.)

• Basic Life Support Certificate (BLS) issued by the American Heart Association
• Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate issued by the American Red Cross
• None of the above

05

Fluency (speak, read, write) in Spanish is required to be eligible for this position. Are you fluent in Spanish? (A "No" answer to this question will disqualify you from this recruitment.)

• Yes
• No

06

These positions require possession of a class C California driver license or the ability to provide suitable transportation (including public transportation), as approved by the appointing authority. Do you meet this requirement?

• Yes, I possess a class C driver license or equivalent
• Yes, I am able to provide suitable transportation
• No, I do not have a driver license and am not able to provide suitable transportation

07

Please describe the education, training and experience that qualify you for a position as a Public Health Nurse. Include specific certificates, training and experience. Be specific.
08

Describe the experience that has prepared you to work as an independent case manager in assessing and developing plans to coordinate care for clients in a public health system. Provide a specific example from your work experience.
09

Describe your experience establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with medical providers, diverse community groups, non-profit organizations and community leaders. Be specific about the kinds of organizations you collaborated with and include the purpose of your outreach.
10

Describe your experience providing public health services in home visiting, community, and clinic settings. Be specific.
Required Question