The Department of Mental Health (DMH) is accepting applications for a Community Mental Health Nursing Advisor II.This role will support statewide child and adolescent continuing care secure inpatient and residential treatment programs. In this highly impactful role, you will provide clinical oversight, utilization management review, and quality improvement support across specialized treatment settings serving youth with complex behavioral health needs. This position offers the opportunity to collaborate with multidisciplinary leadership teams, influence systemwide standards of care, and help advance trauma-informed, strength-based, and recovery-oriented treatment practices that improve outcomes for children, adolescents, and families.

This role is ideal for a psychiatric or mental health nursing professional who is passionate about clinical excellence, statewide systems improvement, and advocacy for youth receiving intensive behavioral health services. Candidates will have the opportunity to engage in program evaluation, clinical consultation, treatment planning, discharge coordination, staff education, and quality assurance initiatives aligned with Joint Commission, CMS, DMH, and licensing standards. DMH offers the chance to contribute to meaningful public service work while helping shape innovative behavioral health practices across Massachusetts’ child-serving mental health system.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive)

• Provide statewide clinical oversight and utilization management review for child and adolescent clients within secure inpatient and residential treatment programs.

• Conduct on-site and telephonic clinical reviews to evaluate quality of care, treatment effectiveness, and compliance with established standards and regulations.

• Monitor program utilization, patient census data, and treatment status designations to support operational accountability and informed clinical decision-making.

• Review and evaluate individualized treatment plans, medication protocols, crisis prevention strategies, and discharge planning to promote positive clinical outcomes and successful community integration.

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary leadership teams, including clinical directors, nursing leadership, and program management staff, to improve program performance and service delivery.

• Ensure adherence to DMH licensing standards, Joint Commission requirements, CMS regulations, and other applicable behavioral health and child-serving program standards.

• Advocate for children, adolescents, and families by coordinating communication and follow-up across providers, programs, and service systems involved in the treatment continuum.

• Deliver specialized training and technical guidance related to nursing practice standards, utilization management, trauma-informed care, restraint and seclusion prevention, and effective discharge planning.

• Participate in statewide meetings, treatment team discussions, utilization management reviews, and program evaluation activities to support continuous quality improvement initiatives.

• Maintain statewide service databases, compile statistical and clinical reports, analyze program outcomes, and support ongoing evaluation of care quality and system performance.

Required Qualifications:

• Knowledge of psychiatric and mental health nursing principles, practices, terminology, and treatment interventions for children and adolescents.

• Understanding of Joint Commission behavioral health standards, CMS Psychiatric Inpatient Under 21 requirements, DMH licensing standards, and applicable child-serving program regulations.

• Knowledge of physical and medical health issues affecting children and adolescents, including infection control, communicable diseases, immunizations, and wellness monitoring.

• Ability to assess clinical information, analyze treatment needs, and make informed recommendations regarding quality of care and service delivery.

• Experience reviewing treatment plans, medication protocols, crisis prevention strategies, and discharge planning processes within behavioral health settings.

• Ability to gather, evaluate, and interpret information through medical record reviews, interviews, observations, and data analysis.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, leadership staff, families, and external partners.

• Proficiency in maintaining accurate documentation, preparing reports, compiling statistics, and utilizing electronic medical records and database systems.

• Knowledge of community-based behavioral health resources, treatment services, and systems of care supporting children, adolescents, and families.

• Ability to provide training, technical guidance, and advocacy related to nursing standards, utilization management, trauma-informed care, and quality improvement initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with children and adolescents in inpatient, residential, or community-based behavioral health settings.

• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma-informed care, strength-based treatment approaches, and recovery-oriented behavioral health practices.

• Experience conducting utilization management reviews, quality assurance activities, or program evaluation within healthcare or behavioral health environments.

• Familiarity with Joint Commission standards, CMS regulations, DMH licensing requirements, and child-serving program compliance expectations.

• Strong understanding of psychiatric diagnoses, psychopharmacology, crisis intervention, and treatment planning for youth with complex behavioral health needs.

• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, including nursing leadership, psychiatrists, clinicians, educators, and community providers.

• Ability to analyze clinical data, identify trends, and develop recommendations to improve quality of care and program outcomes.

• Experience providing staff training, clinical consultation, or technical assistance related to behavioral health treatment and nursing practice standards.

• Proficiency using electronic medical records, Microsoft Office applications, and database systems for reporting, documentation, and data tracking.

• Current and valid licensure as a Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with psychiatric or mental health nursing experience strongly preferred.

DMH Mission Statement:

The Department of Mental Health assures and provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of individuals of all ages, enabling them to live, work and participate in their communities. The Department establishes standards to ensure effective and culturally competent care to promote recovery. The Department sets policy, promotes self-determination, protects human rights and supports mental health training and research.

Pre-Offer Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

ADA Reasonable Accommodation:

If you require a reasonable accommodation with the application/interview process, please contact us at: EOHHS Candidate ADA Requests

For questions regarding this requisition, please contact the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Human Resources at 1-800- 510-4122 Ext. #4.

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must have at least (A) four years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, experience as a registered nurse in psychiatric nursing or mental health nursing work, or (B) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

Substitutions:
A Graduate degree with a major in psychiatric or mental health nursing may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Current and valid registration as a professional nurse under the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics?Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

Title 101 CMR 23.00 (“Regulation”) requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza.

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.