Social Worker IV; DL - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Recruitment Number 23-212TY:
Social Worker IV (DL), Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

* Salary rate effective 07/01/2025.

Note:

These positions require a current valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle. The immediate vacancy requires the incumbent to be of the same gender (male) as the clients being served.

Working as a Social Worker with the Judiciary provides 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.

Hawaiʻi State Judiciary Social Workers work in court programs with a variety of clients and issues. Functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

• supervision of juvenile law violators, adult law violators, defendants conditionally released from the Hawaiʻi State Hospital, or juvenile status offenders;
• conducting child custody/visitation evaluations;
• assisting protection order petitioners;
• assisting in child welfare services cases referred to the Family Court;
• supporting juveniles temporarily detained; and
• engaging family and community in juvenile cases.

Issues involved include substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, child abuse and neglect, trauma, disputed child custody/visitation, victim restitution, and others.

Social Worker IV positions provide intensive social case work and related services in the most complex cases presenting a wide range of psycho-social problems. Responsibilities also include:

• serving as a field supervisor for less experienced social workers;
• serving a full range of cases within a department’s programs at a single location;
• providing technical consultation on case direction for specific program areas.

Graduation from an accredited four‑year college or university with a bachelor’s degree that includes at least twelve semester credit hours in social work, social welfare, criminal justice, human services, counseling, psychology, sociology, or other related social sciences.

Substantial work experience may substitute for four‑year degree education on a year-for-year basis, provided the experience demonstrates comparable knowledge and abilities.

Two and one‑half (2‑1/2) years of progressively responsible professional social work experience involving:

• assessment, planning, and implementation of treatment programs;
• cooperation with other professionals and community agencies in interdisciplinary teams;
• evaluation of client progress and adjustment of plans.

• A bachelor’s degree in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration qualifies for Social Worker II or six (6) months of experience.
• A master’s degree in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration 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 qualifies for Social Worker IV or two and one‑half (2‑1/2) years of experience.

• Providing supportive services to other professionals;
• 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 that did not require professional social work knowledge;
• Relocating displaced clients;
• Trainee level social work experience without 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, lockups, prisons, or community confinement facilities. Under the Federal PREA law, the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary shall not hire or promote individuals who:

• Have engaged in sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, or juvenile facility;
• Have been convicted of sexual activity involving force or coercion;
• Have been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in such activity;
• Have had substantiated allegations of sexual abuse or harassment, or resigned during a pending investigation.

Most positions serve as probation officers, managing a caseload of clients adjudicated for law violations or status offenses. They provide services and supervise compliance with court orders.

Probation officers engage in collaborative casework with clients who may have serious mental health issues, family conflict, extensive law violation histories, severe behavioral problems, disruptive parent/child relationships, drug and/or alcohol abuse, and other complex conditions.