Social Worker IV (Public Guardian) - Hilo, Hawaii

Hawai`i State Judiciary; Hilo (HI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawaii State Judiciary in Hilo seeks a Social Worker IV (Public Guardian) to provide guardianship and case management for incapacitated adults under supervision. The role requires conducting interviews, assessments, and coordinating services to support wards, including decisions on health and welfare, and preparing reports for court hearings.

The position involves serving as an on-duty guardian, maintaining case records, and traveling to residences, facilities, courts, and other community

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with at least 12 credit hours in social sciences or related fields.
• Ability to write clear reports and interpret complex material.
• Substitution options: Master’s or PhD for higher levels as specified in the posting.

Responsibilities

• Provide guardianship and case management for incapacitated adults under supervision.
• Conduct interviews and assessments; monitor client well-being and progress.
• Make decisions regarding ward health, residence, safety and welfare.
• Develop and monitor treatment plans; coordinate services with providers and community agencies.
• Attend court hearings; prepare guardianship reports and legal documents.
• Serve as on-duty guardian and provide coverage for absent staff.
• Maintain comprehensive case records and related documentation.
• Travel regularly to residences, facilities, courts and community locations; overnight and inter-island travel as needed.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Case management

Interviewing

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration

Job description

Position Specific Description

• Hourly rate effective July 1, 2026.

Position Specific Description

Recruitment Number 26-104LJ, Social Worker IV (Public Guardian), SR-22*, Hilo, Hawaii.

• Hourly rate effective July 1, 2026.

Note

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

Summary Of Duties

This position provides guardianship and case management services for incapacitated adults under the supervision of the Office of the Public Guardian. Responsibilities include conducting interviews and assessments; monitoring client well-being and progress; making decisions regarding the ward’s health, residence, safety, and welfare; developing and monitoring treatment plans; coordinating services with case managers, healthcare providers, and community agencies; and responding to emergency situations. The position serves as an on-duty guardian, provides coverage for absent staff, attends and testifies at court hearings, prepares guardianship reports and legal documentation, and protects wards from abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Additional duties include conducting intake assessments for new guardianship cases, identifying and securing necessary resources and services, providing information and consultation regarding guardianship matters, supervising interns and volunteers, conducting community education and training, and maintaining comprehensive case records. The position requires regular travel to residences, healthcare facilities, courts, and other community locations, including occasional overnight travel and inter-island assignments as needed to serve wards and fulfill program responsibilities.

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

Two and one-half (2-1/2) years 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.

Non-Qualifying Experience

Experience which did not provide the necessary professional social work concepts and theories and the background and knowledge of the principles and methods 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.
• Trainee level type social work experience will not be considered qualifying unless work is performed under competent professional social work supervision.

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.

Selective Certification Requirement - Driver's License:

This position requires 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 this position, 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.

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.