Social Worker II (PO/DL) - Kauai

Hawai`i State Judiciary Careers; Hawaii; On-site; USD 58,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hawai`i State Judiciary is seeking applicants for various social worker positions specializing in probation and family court services. Social workers engage with clients facing a range of challenges such as substance abuse and mental health issues. Strong candidates will have at least a bachelor’s degree in social work or a related field and specific professional experience.

Successful applicants will be able to manage complex cases and work collaboratively within the judiciary framework. The roles require effective communication and a commitment to supporting public welfare.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college with a degree including social science courses.
• Ability to write clear and comprehensive reports.
• One-half year of progressively responsible professional social work experience.

Responsibilities

• Supervise juvenile law violators
• Conduct child custody evaluations
• Assist child welfare services cases

Skills

Social work skills

Professional judgement

Report writing

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related field

Job description

Position Specific Description

Recruitment Number 25-007TY, Social Worker II (PO/DL), SR-18, Kauai.

Recruitment Number 25-006TY, Social Worker I (PO/DL), SR-16, Kauai.

Recruitment Number 25-008TY, Social Worker III (PO/DL), SR-20, Kauai.

Recruitment Number 25-009TY, Social Worker IV (PO/DL), SR-22, Kauai.

Note: These positions serve as a probation officer and require a current valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle.

Working as a Social Worker with the Judiciary provides you with opportunities to contribute to public welfare and safety. The Judiciary employs social workers in various programs throughout the courts. Duties are program‑specific and can be diverse, as are the clients, creating an opportunity to develop and practice a broad range of skills.

The social work professionals are committed to enhancing the profession by utilizing evidence‑based practices informed by current research to promote client behavioral changes and improve outcomes.

Our social work professionals embrace collaborative casework and seek opportunities to be part of the solution to complex social issues.

Summary of Duties

Hawaii State Judiciary Social Workers work in court programs with a variety of clients and issues. Functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Supervision of juvenile law violators, adult law violators, defendants conditionally released from the Hawaii State Hospital, or juvenile status offenders;
• Conducting child custody/visitation evaluations;
• Assisting protection order petitioners;
• Assisting in child welfare services cases referred to the Family Court;
• Handling juveniles temporarily detained;
• Engaging family and community in juvenile cases.

Among some of the issues involved in the cases are substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, child abuse and neglect, trauma, disputed child custody/visitation, victim restitution, and others.

Social Worker II positions perform a variety of social work tasks ranging from the simple to the moderately difficult cases which do not require the services of a fully trained professionally qualified social worker. They investigate and determine kinds of services needed by an individual client, and/or family and carry out approved treatment plans; prepare case records and reports; and perform other duties as required.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Education Requirement: Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a bachelor’s degree which included a minimum of twelve (12) semester credit hours in courses such as social work, social welfare, criminal justice, human services, counseling, psychology, sociology, or other related social sciences.

Excess work experience as described under Specialized Experience below, or any other responsible administrative, professional or analytical work experience which provided knowledge and abilities comparable to those acquired in four (4) years of successful study while completing a college or university curriculum leading to a bachelor’s degree may be substituted on a year-for-year basis. To be acceptable, the experience must have been of such scope, level and quality as to assure the possession of comparable knowledge and abilities.

The education or experience background must also demonstrate the ability to write clear and comprehensive reports and other documents; read and interpret complex written material; and solve complex problems logically and systematically.

Specialized Experience

One-half (1/2) year of progressively responsible professional social work experience which involved utilizing a variety of social work skills and exercising professional judgement in the process of assisting individuals and their families with identifying their problems, evaluating the situation realistically, and considering resources and alternative courses of action pertinent to their needs and circumstances.

The work typically involves conducting assessments; developing and implementing a plan of treatment programs and services; working cooperatively with other professionals, community agencies or institutions, in an interdisciplinary team; and evaluating the client’s progress and adjusting plans as appropriate.

Substitution Options

• A bachelor’s degree in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration from an accredited four (4) year college or university qualifies for Social Worker II or six (6) months of experience.
• A master’s degree in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration from an accredited college or university qualifies for Social Worker III or one and one‑half (1-1/2) years of experience.
• A Ph.D. degree in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration from an accredited college or university qualifies for Social Worker IV or two and one‑half (2-1/2) years of experience.

Non‑Qualifying Experience

• Experience providing supportive services to professional social workers, vocational rehabilitation specialists, housing managers, or other professional workers in programs such as public welfare, family court, etc.
• Experience determining the eligibility of applicants/recipients for benefits under a public welfare program such as medical assistance, food stamps and other benefits.
• Experience providing vocational, educational, psychological, or pastoral counseling.
• Experience providing occupational or physical therapeutic services.
• Peace Corps or VISTA work experience which did not require the application of professional knowledge of the principles and practices of social work and/or was not performed under competent professional supervision.
• Experience relocating clients who are displaced as a result of urban renewal or other similar reasons.
• Trainee level type social work experience will not be considered qualifying unless work is performed under competent professional social work supervision.

Driver's License Requirement

Applicants must possess a current and valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle.

PREA Requirement

For certain positions, applicants may have contact with detainees in juvenile facilities and lockups, with inmates detained in a prison or jail, or with residents of community confinement facilities.

In accordance with the federal PREA law, the Hawaii State Judiciary shall not hire or promote anyone who may have had contact with detainees in juvenile facilities and lockups, with inmates detained in a prison or jail, or with residents of community confinement facilities and:

• Has engaged in sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, juvenile facility or other institution.
• Has been convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse.
• Has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described above.
• Has been the subject of substantiated allegations of sexual abuse or sexual harassment, or resigned during a pending investigation of alleged sexual abuse or sexual harassment.