Social Worker IV; PO​/DL - Kauai

Job Overview

Recruitment Number 25-009TY, Social Worker IV (PO/DL), SR-22, Kauai. Salary rate effective 07/01/2025. These positions serve as a probation officer and require a current valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle. This posting is for a fourth level social worker. Depending on your education and experience, you may also qualify for other levels; review the Minimum Qualification Requirements to see which levels you are eligible for and submit a separate application for each.

• Supervision of juvenile law violators, adult law violators, defendants conditionally released from the Hawaii State Hospital, or juvenile status offenders;
• Conduct child custody/visitation evaluations;
• Assist protection order petitioners;
• Assist in child welfare services cases referred to the Family Court;
• Work with juveniles temporarily detained;
• Engage family and community in juvenile cases;
• Address issues such as substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, child abuse and neglect, trauma, disputed child custody/visitation, victim restitution, and others;
• Provide intensive social case work and related services in complex cases with wide psycho‑social problems;
• Supervise a small group of less experienced social workers and provide technical consultation on specific program areas;
• Perform other duties as required and line service unit functions.

Graduation from an accredited four‑year college or university with a bachelor’s degree, including a minimum of twelve semester credit hours in courses such as social work, social welfare, criminal justice, human services, counseling, psychology, sociology, or related social sciences.

Excess work experience as described in the Specialized Experience section or comparable administrative, professional, or analytical experience may substitute on a year‑for‑year basis. The experience must demonstrate comparable knowledge and abilities to those obtained through a bachelor’s degree.

Education or experience must demonstrate the ability to write clear and comprehensive reports, read and interpret complex written material, and solve complex problems logically and systematically.

Two and one‑half (2‑1/2) years of progressively responsible professional social work experience involving utilization of a variety of social work skills, professional judgement, assessments, treatment planning, interdisciplinary teamwork, and client progress evaluation.

• A bachelor’s degree in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration from an accredited four‑year college or university qualifies for Social Worker II or six 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.

Experience that did not provide the necessary professional social work concepts, theories, and background—examples include:

• Providing supportive services to other professionals in public welfare or family court programs.
• Determining eligibility for public welfare benefits such as medical assistance or food stamps.
• Providing vocational, educational, psychological, or pastoral counseling.
• Providing occupational or physical therapeutic services.
• Peace Corps or VISTA work lacking professional supervision.
• Relocating clients displaced by urban renewal or similar reasons.
• Trainee level social work experience not performed under professional supervision.

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

Applicants may have contact with detainees in juvenile facilities and lockups, inmates detained in a prison or jail, or residents of community confinement facilities. They must meet the following criteria:

If using education as a substitution for experience, submit a copy of transcript(s) or diploma(s) at the time of application. If selected, an official transcript will be requested at a later date.