Client Specialist Jobs in Hawaii

Position Specific Description

Summary of Duties

This position supervises the staff and operations of the Adult Client Services & Probation Branch, providing leadership, guidance, consultation, and training to professional social work and probation staff. Responsibilities include directing and evaluating case assignments and service delivery; reviewing case records and recommendations for compliance with court orders, policies, and legal requirements; monitoring workload priorities and deadlines; and providing oversight of case planning, counseling services, and community resource utilization. The position is also responsible for staff development, performance management, training, policy interpretation, complaint resolution, and fostering a positive work environment. In addition, the position works directly with federal and other state agencies in support of criminal justice system planning and assists the Administrator with personnel selection and workforce planning activities; and performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Education: 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; OR

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: Three and one-half (3-1/2) years of 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.

Supervisory Aptitude: For some positions at the Social Worker V level, applicants must possess supervisory aptitude. Supervisory aptitude is the demonstration of aptitude or potential for the performance of supervisory duties through successful completion of regular or special assignments which involve some supervisory responsibilities or aspects of supervision, e.g., by serving as a group or team leader, or in similar work in which opportunities for demonstrating supervisory capabilities exist; or by completion of training courses in supervision accompanied by application of supervisory skills in work assignments; or by favorable appraisals by a supervisor indicating the possession of supervisory potential.

Substitution Allowed:

1. A bachelor’s degree in Social Work or Criminal Justice Administration from an accredited four (4) year college or university qualifies for Social Worker II or six (6) months of experience.
2. 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.
3. 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 of non-qualifying experience include, but are not limited to:

(1) 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.;
(2) experience determining the eligibility of applicants/recipients for benefits under a public welfare program such as medical assistance, food stamps and other benefits;
(3) experience providing vocational, educational, psychological, or pastoral counseling; (4) experience providing occupational or physical therapeutic services;
(5) 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;
(6) experience relocating clients who are displaced as a result of urban renewal or other similar reasons; and
(7) trainee level type social work experience will not be considered qualifying unless work is performed under competent professional social work supervision.

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

Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Requirement (28 CFR 115.17, 115.117, 115.217 and 115.317): For this position, applicants 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 Hawaii 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.

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: Hawaii State Judiciary, Human Resources Department, 426 Queen Street, First Floor, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.

Education: If you are using education as a substitute for experience, you must submit a copy of your transcript(s) or diploma(s) at the time of application. If you are selected, you will need an official transcript (not a copy) indicating the completion of the training or the awarding of the appropriate degree.