Social Worker IV (PO/DL) - Kaunakakai, Molokai

About the Role

These positions serve as probation officers within the Hawai`i State Judiciary, requiring a current and valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle. Social workers in the Judiciary contribute to public welfare and safety through diverse, program-specific duties involving a broad range of clients and issues. The role emphasizes evidence-based practices to promote client behavioral changes and improve outcomes, offering opportunities for collaborative casework on 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 with 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.
• Provide intensive social casework and related services for complex cases with a wide range of psycho-social problems.
• Supervise a small group of less experienced social workers (as applicable).
• Offer technical consultation on case direction within a specific program area.
• Perform other duties as required.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree, including 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 professional experience providing comparable knowledge and abilities may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.
• Ability to write clear and comprehensive reports, interpret complex written material, and solve problems logically and systematically.
• Two and one-half (2-1/2) years of progressively responsible professional social work experience involving assessments, treatment planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and client progress evaluation.
• Current and valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle.

Qualifications

Substitution Allowed:

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

Non-Qualifying Experience: Experience that does not apply professional social work concepts or principles will not be considered. Examples include:

• Supportive services to professional social workers or other specialists.
• Determining eligibility for public welfare benefits.
• 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 Requirements

Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Compliance: Applicants must not have engaged in, been convicted of, or been subject to substantiated allegations of sexual abuse or harassment in correctional or juvenile facilities, or resigned during a pending investigation of such allegations.