SOCIAL WORKER OR HUMAN SERVICES PROFESSIONAL II, III, IV, V, VI

Hawaii Reporter Inc.; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 47,351 - 82,037; Full time

Job summary

A government health department in Hawaii is looking for Social Workers and Human Services Professionals to improve the quality of life for clients through intervention and support. The role requires a degree in social work or related behavioral sciences and encompasses a range of responsibilities across various settings, including hospitals and social service agencies. Candidates must be capable of developing service plans and working closely with other professionals to deliver effective services.

Qualifications

• Must possess a degree in social work from an accredited program.
• Progressively responsible professional work experience required.
• Valid driver’s license may be necessary.

Responsibilities

• Improve the quality of life for clients through various interventions.
• Establish working relationships with clients and agencies.
• Assess client needs and develop appropriate service plans.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Assessment and planning

Counseling techniques

Crisis intervention

Education

Bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work

Doctoral degree in social work

Bachelor’s degree in behavioral sciences

Job description

Recruitment Information

Please be advised that the hiring process for this position is part of the Department of Health’s Hiring Innovation for Rapid Employment (HIRE) Pilot Project. The Pilot Project will defer the traditional screening of applications for minimum qualifications until after a selection has been made. Therefore, the referral of an application to the hiring manager and the opportunity to interview for the position do not indicate that the applicant meets the minimum qualifications for the position, nor do they guarantee employment. If selected for the role, a comprehensive review of the application packet will occur to ensure that the minimum qualifications are met. If the selectee is deemed qualified, a conditional offer will be issued.

This posting is for the State of Hawaii, Department of Health.

The position is located on the Island of OAHU.

Salary

• Level I Salary: $4,243 per month (SR-16, Step D)
• Level II Salary: $4,590 per month (SR-18, Step D)
• Level III Salary: $4,961 to $6,043 per month (SR-20, Step D to I)
• Level IV Salary: $5,369 to $6,535 per month (SR-22, Step D to I)
• Level V Salary: $6,043 to $7,351 per month (SR-24, Step D to I)
• Level VI Salary: $6,535 to $7,952 per month (SR-26, Step D to I)

The State Recruiting Office will refer all inquiries regarding this civil service recruitment to the Department of Health.

Duties Summary

Social Workers and Human Services Professionals seek to improve the overall quality of life of people within the context of their environment through the remediation and prevention of their problems, and by improving accessibility, accountability, and coordination of service delivery among a variety of professionals and/or agencies tasked with providing appropriate services to clients. These professionals come from a variety of interdisciplinary bases, establish working relationships of mutual respect and trust with the clientele served, and utilize a variety of helping interventions to enable these clients to function as effectively as possible.

These positions are found in a variety of settings and work with diverse types of people. They may be found in hospitals and other health service agencies, social service agencies, schools, correctional facilities, and programs concerned with substance abuse, aging, and family violence. Although work settings and clientele may differ, all Social Workers and Human Services Professionals use similar professional concepts, principles, and techniques regardless of the program in which they work.

Human Services Professional Classifications

Human Services Professional I is the entry level in this class. Positions receive training in the basic principles, methods and techniques of professional human services work and orientation to the specific work organization and its functions, objectives, policies and procedures. Cases are assigned concurrently with orientation and training. Cases may initially be fewer in number than those assigned to more experienced workers and, as far as can be anticipated, will be those with problems which are limited in scope and complexity or may require only short‑term intervention. Cases are selected to develop the employee for progression to a higher level of work. Supervision is close and immediate, and work assignments are closely and critically reviewed for compliance with instructions and application of approved practices and to assure potential for further training and development.

Social Worker or Human Services Professional II is the advanced trainee level. Positions continue to receive training in the principles, practices, and techniques of professional human services work and are assigned increasingly complex cases while continuing to advance toward becoming independent workers.

Social Worker or Human Services Professional III positions are distinguished by the complexity of assigned cases and the level of authority assumed by the worker. The following summarizes the types of positions found at this level:

• Type A: Fully independent workers who provide the full range of core human services work such as assessment of needs; development and implementation of service plans, including direct services such as advising/counseling and/or referral/coordinative services; and monitoring, evaluating, and adjusting service plans. Examples include provision of ongoing support to developmentally disabled clients, multidisciplinary team roles, and oversight of child‑care providers.
• Type B: Workers who do not function at the fully independent level. Most assigned cases involve clients who are difficult to engage, hostile or resistant, or have significant complexities due to multiple and/or severe psychosocial, physical/mental, and environmental problems.

Other classifications (IV, V, VI) follow similar patterns of increasing complexity, authority, and supervision responsibilities. Detailed descriptions for each level may be found in the full job posting.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

GENERAL EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT

• Social Worker II and III: Applicants must possess a bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, or a doctoral degree in social work from an accredited institution.
• Human Services Professional I: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited four‑year college or university with a minimum of 12 semester credit hours in counseling, criminal justice, human services, psychology, social work, social welfare, sociology, or other behavioral sciences.
• Human Services Professional II and III: Same educational requirement as Professional I with equivalent credit hours.
• Human Services Professional experience may be substituted on a year‑for‑year basis if it demonstrates comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Social Worker and Human Services Professional IV–VI have similar educational and experience requirements adjusted for the higher level of responsibility appropriate to each class.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENT

Applicants must possess progressively responsible professional work experience. Specific experience requirements vary by level and include:

• Social Worker II & III – No specialized experience required for a Bachelor of Social Work with one year if Graduate, none with Master’s or Ph.D.; 6 months to 1½ years for Human Services Professional.
• Social Worker IV & V – 2, 1, 2½, 3, 2 year, and 3½ years of specialized experience depending on degree level and whether applicant is Social Worker or Human Services Professional.
• Social Worker VI – 3–4 years of specialized experience depending on degree level; 4–4½ years for Human Services Professional.
• Relevant substitutions under Minimum Qualification Requirements apply.

Graduating within three months and meeting the Minimum Qualification Requirements will be accepted for examination, provided official transcripts and enrollment verification are submitted.

Some positions require possession of a valid driver’s license at the time of appointment.

Who May Apply

Legal Authorization to Work Requirement: The State of Hawaii requires that all persons seeking employment with the government be citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States, or eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment in the United States.

Other Information

Complete application packet at: https://health.hawaii.gov/employment/job-opportunities/

Recruitment deadline is continuous.