Social Worker IV (Public Guardian) - Hilo, Hawaii

Salary: $5,527.00 Monthly
Location : Hilo
Job Type: Full-Time Permanent
Job Number: 26-104LJ
Department: Intergovernmental/Community Relations Dept
Division: Office of the Public Gdn
Opening Date: 06/14/2026
Closing Date: Continuous


Position Specific Description

Recruitment Number 26-104LJ, Social Worker IV (Public Guardian), SR-22*, Hilo, Hawaii.

*Hourly rate effective July 1, 2026.

Note: T his position requires a current and valid driver's license to operate a motor vehicle.

Summary of Duties


This position provides guardianship and case management services for incapacitated adults under the supervision of the Office of the Public Guardian. Responsibilities include conducting interviews and assessments; monitoring client well-being and progress; making decisions regarding the ward's health, residence, safety, and welfare; developing and monitoring treatment plans; coordinating services with case managers, healthcare providers, and community agencies; and responding to emergency situations. The position serves as an on-duty guardian, provides coverage for absent staff, attends and testifies at court hearings, prepares guardianship reports and legal documentation, and protects wards from abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Additional duties include conducting intake assessments for new guardianship cases, identifying and securing necessary resources and services, providing information and consultation regarding guardianship matters, supervising interns and volunteers, conducting community education and training, and maintaining comprehensive case records. The position requires regular travel to residences, healthcare facilities, courts, and other community locations, including occasional overnight travel and inter-island assignments as needed to serve wards and fulfill program responsibilities.

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: Two and one-half (2-1/2) 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.

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.
(7) Trainee level type social work experience will not be considered qualifying unless work is performed under competent professional social work supervision.

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.

Selective Certification Requirement - Driver's License: This position requires 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 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 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 View email address on click.appcast.io, 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 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.


for other important information about the Merit or Civil Service System, Citizenship and Residency requirements, Accommodations, Veterans Preference, Examination process, Administrative Review, and more.
Civil service employees are eligible for a range of benefits, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Up to 13 paid holidays each year, and 14 during election years
• Up to 21 vacation leave days per year
• Up to 21 sick leave days per year
• Reasonable time off with pay for jury or witness duty, death in the family, for certain military duty, and for donating to the Blood Bank
• Employer contribution to premiums for enrollment in the state sponsored medical, drug, vision, and adult dental plans
• Free life insurance policy for employees and retirees
• Deferred compensation retirement savings plan
• State retirement plan for eligible employees

Judiciary employees may also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information:
CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF EMPLOYEE BENEFITS AND OTHER RELATED INFORMATION
The above benefits are subject to modification or termination due to changes in statutes, collective bargaining provisions, and/or policies, etc. This summary does not constitute a legal document or contract. Benefits may vary by type of employment and employment conditions.
01



Selective Certification Requirement - Driver's License : This position requires a current and valid driver's license to operate a motor vehicle. If you do not have a current and valid driver's license, your application will be rejected.

Do you possess a current and valid driver's license to operate a motor vehicle?

• Yes
• No

02



Education Requirement : Which of the following choices best describes your highest level of college or university education?

• No four-year college or university degree.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university with a minimum of 12 semester credits in courses such as social work, social welfare, criminal justice, human services, counseling, psychology, sociology, or other related social sciences.
• Bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) from an accredited school of social work OR Bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration from an accredited college.
• Master's degree in social work (MSW) from an accredited school of social work OR Master's degree in criminal justice administration from an accredited college.
• Doctorate degree in social work from an accredited school of social work OR Doctorate degree in criminal justice administration from an accredited college.

03



Specialized Experience Requirement : Please describe your professional social work experience with each employer for each of the areas below.

A. Describe the target population you primarily worked with (e.g., adults, juveniles, male, female, etc.). Was your work in this position involved with the justice system?

B. Did you carry or coordinate a caseload? If so, what kind and how many cases did you regularly average? What were some of your more complex cases?

C. Describe the types of evaluations/assessments you performed, if any. How were these evaluations and assessments used?

D. Describe the types of service or treatment plans you developed, if any.

E. Who initiated these service/treatment plans and how were they implemented? Were these service/treatment plans directly initiated and implemented by you or through the authorization of a provider/vendor service? If these service plans were initiated or implemented by an authorized provider/vendor service, please explain your role.

F. Who monitored these services and how were they monitored? What kinds of services did you provide?

G. Who evaluated/assessed the client's progress? What kinds of amendments to the service/treatment plans were made? How often were these evaluations/assessments completed?

H. Did you provide any individual/group counseling? What was your role? How often did you perform counseling duties? What kind(s) of counseling techniques did you use?

I. Describe your duties, if any, with this employer, that involved working with other social service/other agencies professionals or providers.

Note: In responding, work in the space below or attach a WORD or PDF file in the attachment section. Copying and pasting your resume, or responses such as "See resume" or "See application" are NOT sufficient.
04



Transcripts: In order to prevent delays in the application process, please submit at least a copy of your official transcripts at the time of application. If you are selected, we will need an original official transcript (not a copy) indicating the completion of any required course work and the awarding of the appropriate degree(s).

You may electronically attach the transcript to your online application, email a copy to View email address on click.appcast.io, or mail a copy to the Hawai`i State Judiciary, Human Resources Department, 426 Queen Street, First Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813.

• Yes, I understand and will submit the required information.
• I submitted my supporting documents for a previous recruitment.
• I do not possess a four-year degree from an accredited college or university.

Required Question