Social Worker I (DL) - Honolulu, O`ahu

Recruitment Number 23-283TY, Social Worker I (DL), SR-16, Honolulu, O`ahu.

Note: These positions require a current valid driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle. 

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.

Summary of Duties

Hawai`i State Judiciary Social Workers work in court programs (Download PDF reader) 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; juveniles temporarily detained; and 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 I positions perform simple social work tasks in accordance with defined policies and procedures and specific supervisory instructions; prepares case records and reports; and performs other duties as required.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Education Requirement: Graduation from an accredited four (4) 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; and solve complex problems logically and systematically.

Specialized Experience:  Progressively responsible professional social work experience which involved utilizing a variety of social work skills and exercising professional judgement 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; and evaluating the client’s progress and adjusting plans as appropriate.

Selective Certification Requirement - Driver's License:  For these positions, applicants must possess a current and valid driver's license to operate a motor vehicle.

Qualification for Firearms (Lautenberg):  For certain positions, applicants must be qualified to possess firearms or ammunition in accordance with state and federal laws, e.g., no misdemeanor or felony domestic violence conviction.

Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Requirement (28 CFR 115.17, 115.117, 115.217 and 115.317):  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:

a. Has engaged in sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, juvenile facility or other institution;
b. 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;
c. Has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described in b above; or
d. 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 Position:  Most positions serve as probation officers. Probation Officers manage a case load 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, etc.

Supplemental Information

Any additional information may be attached to your online application, submitted by email to Recruitment@courts.hawaii.gov, or mailed to the following address: Hawai`i State Judiciary, Human Resources Department, 426 Queen Street, First Floor, Honolulu, Hawai`i 96813.

Education:  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, we will request an official transcript (not a copy) at a later date. The official transcript must indicate completion of the training and/or the awarding of the appropriate degree.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Applicants who will graduate with a Bachelor’s degree with at least 12 semester credits of social science coursework may apply within three months prior to graduation. If you are selected, we will need an original official transcript (not a copy) indicating the completion of the required coursework and the awarding of the degree.