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

Recruitment Number 26-167LJ | SR-18 | Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

About the role

Working as a Social Worker with the Judiciary provides you with 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. Our social work professionals are committed to enhancing the profession by utilizing evidence-based practices informed by current research to promote client behavioral changes and improve outcomes. The Judiciary may be an excellent choice for those who embrace collaborative casework and seek opportunities to be part of the solution to complex social issues.

Responsibilities

Hawai`i 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 Hawai`i 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
• Working with juveniles temporarily detained
• Engagement of family and community in juvenile cases

Among some of the issues involved in the cases are substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, child abuse and neglect, trauma, disputed child custody/visitation, victim restitution, and others.

Social Worker II positions perform a variety of social work tasks ranging from simple to moderately difficult cases which do not require the services of a fully trained professionally qualified social worker, including:

• Investigating and determining kinds of services needed by an individual client and/or family
• Carrying out approved treatment plans
• Preparing case records and reports

Requirements

Education

Graduation from an accredited four-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. To be acceptable, 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
• Solve complex problems logically and systematically

Specialized Experience

One-half (1/2) year of progressively responsible professional social work experience which involved:

• Utilizing a variety of social work skills and exercising professional judgment 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
• Evaluating the client’s progress and adjusting plans as appropriate

Substitution

• 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 (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.

Non-Qualifying Experience

Experience which did not provide the necessary professional social work concepts and theories and the background and knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of professional social work will not be considered as qualifying experience. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• 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 social work experience unless work is performed under competent professional social work supervision.

Selective Certification

• Driver's License: Applicants must possess a current and valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle.

Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Requirement

For certain positions, 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 Hawai`i State Judiciary shall not hire or promote anyone who 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 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 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

Probation Officer Role

Most positions serve as probation officers. Probation Officers manage a caseload of clients who have been adjudicated for law violation(s) or status offense(s) and are placed under the jurisdiction of the court for the purposes of supervision under probation or protective supervision, provision of services, or monitoring for compliance with the court's orders. Probation officers engage in collaborative casework with clients who may have:

• Serious mental health issues
• Family conflict
• Extensive and/or serious law violation histories
• Severe behavioral problems
• Disruptive parent/child relationships
• Drug and/or alcohol abuse

Additional Information

If you are using education as a substitution for experience, you must submit a copy of your transcript(s) or diploma(s) at the time of application. If you are selected for a position, an official transcript (not a copy) will be requested at a later date. The official transcript must indicate completion of the training and/or the awarding of the appropriate degree.

Applicants who will graduate with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration may apply within three months prior to graduation. If selected, an original official transcript (not a copy) indicating the completion of the required coursework and the awarding of the degree will be required.