Social Worker IV (Public Guardian) - Hilo, Hawaii

Hawai`i State Judiciary Careers; Hilo (HI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Hawai`i State Judiciary Careers is seeking a Social Worker IV in Hilo, Hawaii. This position involves providing essential guardianship and case management services to incapacitated adults, conducting comprehensive assessments and developing treatment plans.

The ideal candidate will hold a bachelor's degree in social work or a related field and possess significant social work experience. A valid driver’s license is required due to the position's responsibilities, which include regular travels to various locations and occasional overnight trips.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with necessary social sciences credits.
• Ability to write clear reports and solve complex problems.
• Two and a half years of progressively responsible social work experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide guardianship and case management services for incapacitated adults.
• Conduct assessments and develop treatment plans.
• Supervise interns and volunteers.

Skills

Social work skills

Case management

Assessment and evaluation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field

Job description

Position Specific Description

Hourly rate effective July 1, 2026.

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

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. 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 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

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 had such contact and 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.
• 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.