Social Worker II (Special Services) - Lihue, Kauai

Hawai`i State Judiciary Careers; Hawaii; On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawaii State Judiciary seeks a Social Worker II (Special Services) in Lihue, Kauai, to support Kids First, Guardianship/Conservatorship, Restitution, Community Service Work, and CASA. The advanced trainee role provides in-service training and exposure to cases of increasing complexity for professional development.

Education requires a bachelor’s degree in a related field, with possible substitution by qualifying experience. A valid driver’s license is required, and telework is not available.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration is required.
• Excess work experience may substitute for the degree on a year-for-year basis in matching roles.
• Must demonstrate ability to write clear reports, read complex material, and solve problems logically.

Responsibilities

• Interview and monitor offenders ordered to perform community service or pay restitution.
• Communicate with victims and guardians.
• Conduct field and home visits; carry CASA cases.
• Prepare correspondence and reports; administer Kids First program.
• Assist with review of invoices and referrals for contracts and grants.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration

Job description

Position Specific Description

Recruitment Number 26-230LM, Social Worker II (Special Services), SR-18, Lihue, Kauai.

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. Our 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. The Judiciary may be an excellent choice for those who embrace collaborative casework and seek opportunities to be part of the solution to complex social issues.

Note: This position is based on-site and requires the employee to work in person at the designated work location. Telework and remote work options are not available.

This position requires a current valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle.

Summary Of Duties

This position is assigned to the Special Services Division of the Fifth Circuit and supports programs including Kids First, Guardianship/Conservatorship, Restitution, Community Service Work, and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). As an advanced-level trainee, the position receives in-service training and is assigned cases ranging from simple to moderately difficult, with exposure to more complex cases for professional development. Duties include interviewing and monitoring offenders ordered to perform community service or pay restitution, communicating with victims and guardians, conducting field and home visits, carrying CASA cases, preparing correspondence and reports, administering the Kids First program, and assisting with the review of invoices and referrals for contracts and grants.

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

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 Allowed

• 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 which did not provide the necessary professional social work concepts and theories and the background and knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of professional social work will not be considered as qualifying experience. Examples of non-qualifying experience include, but are not limited to:

• Experience providing supportive services to professional social workers, vocational rehabilitation specialists, housing managers, or other professional workers in such programs 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.
• Experience tutoring level type social work experience will not be considered qualifying unless work is performed under competent professional social work supervision.

Selective Certification Requirement - Driver's License:

For these positions, applicants must possess a current and valid driver's license to operate a motor vehicle.

Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Requirement (28 CFR 115.17, 115.117, 115.217 and 115.317):

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 Contact With Detainees In Juvenile Facilities And Lockups, With Inmates Detained In a Prison Or Jail, Or With Residents Of Community Confinement Facilities Who

• 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 in b above; or
• 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.

Supplemental Information

Any additional information may be attached to your online application, submitted by email to [e-mail], or mailed to the following address: Hawaii State Judiciary, Human Resources Department, 426 Queen Street, First Floor, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.

Education

If you are using education as a substitution for experience, you must submit a copy of your transcript(s) or diploma(s) at the time of application. If you are selected for a position, we will request an official transcript (not a copy) at a later date. The official transcript must indicate completion of the training and/or the awarding of the appropriate degree.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Applicants who will graduate with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration may apply within three months prior to graduation. If you are selected, we will need an original official transcript (not a copy) indicating the completion of the required coursework and the awarding of the degree.