Social Worker II (DL) - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Recruitment Number 26-167LJ | Social Worker II (DL), SR-18 | Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

About the Role

Working as a Social Worker with the Judiciary provides opportunities to contribute to public welfare and safety. The Judiciary employs social workers in various court programs, offering diverse duties and clients to develop and practice a broad range of skills. Social work professionals use evidence-based practices informed by current research to promote client behavioral changes and improve outcomes. This role is ideal for those who embrace collaborative casework and seek to address complex social issues.

Responsibilities

• Supervise juvenile law violators, adult law violators, defendants conditionally released from the Hawai`i State Hospital, or juvenile status offenders.
• Conduct child custody and visitation evaluations.
• Assist protection order petitioners and child welfare services cases referred to the Family Court.
• Engage juveniles temporarily detained and involve 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, and victim restitution.
• Perform a variety of social work tasks, from simple to moderately difficult cases, without requiring fully trained professional social worker oversight.
• Investigate and determine the kinds of services needed by individuals or families and carry out approved treatment plans.
• Prepare case records and reports.
• Manage a caseload of clients adjudicated for law violations or status offenses under court jurisdiction for supervision, service provision, or compliance monitoring.
• Engage in collaborative casework with clients who may have serious mental health issues, family conflict, law violation histories, behavioral problems, parent/child relationship issues, or substance abuse challenges.

Requirements

• Current and valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle.
• Compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) for positions involving contact with detainees, inmates, or residents of confinement facilities. Applicants must not have engaged in or been convicted of sexual abuse or harassment as defined by PREA.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a minimum of twelve (12) semester credit hours in social work, social welfare, criminal justice, human services, counseling, psychology, sociology, or related social sciences.
• Excess work experience in responsible administrative, professional, or analytical roles may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis, provided it demonstrates comparable knowledge and abilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration qualifies for Social Worker II or substitutes for six (6) months of experience.
• Master’s degree in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration qualifies for Social Worker III or substitutes for one and one-half (1.5) years of experience.
• Ph.D. in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration qualifies for Social Worker IV or substitutes for two and one-half (2.5) years of experience.

Experience

• One-half (0.5) year of progressively responsible professional social work experience involving assessments, treatment planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and client progress evaluation.

Non-Qualifying Experience

• Supportive services to professional social workers or other specialists (e.g., vocational rehabilitation, housing managers).
• Determining eligibility for public welfare benefits (e.g., medical assistance, food stamps).
• Vocational, educational, psychological, or pastoral counseling.
• Occupational or physical therapeutic services.
• Peace Corps or VISTA work without professional social work supervision or application of social work principles.
• Relocating clients due to urban renewal or similar reasons.
• Trainee-level social work without competent professional supervision.

Additional Information

• Applicants using education as a substitution for experience must submit a copy of their transcript(s) or diploma(s) at the time of application. Official transcripts will be required if selected.
• Applicants graduating with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration may apply within three months prior to graduation. An official transcript indicating degree completion will be required if selected.