CHILD/ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES SPECIALIST - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES - LIHUE, KAUAI

Recruitment Information

Recruitment Number 25-0475 - This vacancy is with the Department of Human Services, Social Services Division.

Salary: $5,588 to $6,797 per month (SR-23, Step D to I)

Note: Hiring rates will be based on availability of funds, the applicant's qualifications, and other relevant factors. This continuous recruitment may be closed at any time. The notice of the last day to file applications will be posted on the State of Hawaii's Civil Service Job Opportunities Listing page of our website.

Duties Summary

Positions in this class are distinguished by the critical, predominantly investigative work they do to identify and confirm reports of alleged child/dependent adult abuse/neglect and develop primary treatment plans. Work is frequently crisis-oriented and confrontational and may involve challenging family members and other person directly in their treatment of children and dependent adults, and performing assessments of situations, where, because of the danger of imminent harm, children or dependent adults may be immediately removed, using police assistance as necessary. Because of the serious nature of allegations being investigated, Child/Adult Protective Services (C/APS) Specialist frequently find themselves in extremely volatile situations particularly in on-site visits where they may encounter a high degree of hostility from family members.

This recruitment is being conducted for positions in the Lihue Adult Protective & Community Services (APCS) program. The function of their units is to investigate reports of alleged abuse, neglect and/or financial exploitation of vulnerable adults and intervene in cases to alleviate the crisis situation and to protect the victim from harm; provide counseling, case management services, and coordination of community services to ensure the continued safety of the vulnerable adult; and provide other community-based services such as care home placement, case management, and repatriation services.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

To qualify, you must meet all of the following requirements: Legal Authorization to Work: The State of Hawaii requires all persons seeking employment with the government of the State shall be citizens, nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States, or eligible under federal law for unrestricted employment in the United States. Basic Education: A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university which included a minimum of 12 semester credit hours in courses such as counseling, criminal justice, human services, psychology, social work, social welfare, sociology or other behavioral sciences. Specialized Experience: One and one-half years of progressively responsible professional experience which involved helping individuals and their families find satisfactory ways of identifying their problems, coping with their conditions, and functioning effectively within their environments. Protective Services Experience: One year of professional social or human service work which primarily involved conducting investigations in order to identify and confirm cases of child/dependent adult abuse/neglect, and developing and implementing primary treatment plans, including termination of parental rights as necessary. Driver's License: Some positions require possession of a valid driver's license at the time of appointment. Substitutions Allowed: Relevant substitutions as described in the Minimum Qualification Requirements, will apply. The information provided above represents a summary of the complete Minimum Qualification Requirements. To view the Requirements in their entirety, please CLICK HERE (Download PDF reader).

Other Information

The State of Hawai'i complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodations in completing an application, any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the selection process, please call View phone number on click.appcast.io for assistance. PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS (PSLF) PROGRAM The PSLF Program is a federal program that is intended to encourage individuals to work in public service by forgiving the balance of their federal student loans. To qualify, the individual must have made 120 qualifying payments while employed by a qualifying employer. For more information, please click: ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION TO APPLICANTS The Department of Human Resources Development (HRD) will use electronic mail (email) to notify applicants of important information relating to the status and processing of their applications as part of our ongoing efforts to increase operational efficiency, promote the conservation of green resources, and minimize delays and costs. Please ensure that the email address and contact information you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our emails or fail to check your email-box in a timely manner. In addition, please be aware that you may no longer receive notification about applications submitted if you choose to disable the Job Application Emails feature in your Account Settings. TESTING INFORMATION The examination for this recruitment will be conducted on an unassembled basis where the examination score is based on an evaluation and rating of your education and experience. It is therefore important that your employment application provide a clear and detailed description of the duties and responsibilities of each position you held. In-person interviews and/or further testing in Hawaii may be required at the discretion of the hiring agency. If in-person interviews and/or further testing is a requirement, applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements and are referred to the vacancy must be available to participate in-person and at their own expense in this required phase of the selection process. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible. In addition to employment availability and score, the referral of qualified applicants may be based upon other factors including date of receipt of application. CLICK HERE (Download PDF reader) for further information about Equal Employment Opportunity, the Merit Civil Service System, Citizenship and other requirements, Reasonable Accommodation, Veterans Preference, Examination Requirements, and the State Recruiting Office's Levels of Review.

Your Job Benefits With The State Of Hawaii

The State of Hawaii offers its employees who are members of the civil service a range of benefits. Some benefits are offered as a result of collective bargaining agreements and changes may occur. A summary of these benefits, which is based on full-time employment, is listed below. Note: Benefits for NON-CIVIL SERVICE appointments will be provided by the hiring department at the time of interview. With Civil Service modernization, effective July 1, 2002, employees appointed to temporary positions may also gain membership in the civil service upon satisfactory completion of an initial probation period of at least six months. As a temporary member of the civil service, you will be eligible to apply for promotion and transfer opportunities to permanent as well as other temporary positions. You may also enjoy other rights and benefits afforded to members of the civil service, with the exception of return rights and placement rights associated with a reduction-in-force of a permanent member of the civil service.

Paid Holidays You may be eligible for 13 paid holidays each year; 14 holidays during an election year. Paid Vacation You may earn vacation leave at a rate that other employers find tough to match – 21 days each full year from the FIRST year of employment. This compares to an average of 10 days offered by private companies. You may accumulate up to a total of 90 days (720 hours) of vacation. Paid Sick Leave You may earn sick leave at the same rate as vacation – 21 days per year from the FIRST year, and there is no limit on the amount you can accumulate. Expectant mothers may also use sick leave for pre-natal or post-natal check-ups or any illness related to pregnancy. Plus, unused accumulated sick leave may eventually be used to increase your retirement benefits in certain situations. Other Leaves Reasonable time off with pay may be provided for jury or witness duty, a death in the family, some military duty, and donation to the Blood Bank. Leave sharing donations may be granted to eligible employees who have serious personal illnesses or injuries or need to care for a seriously ill or injured family member. Various leaves without pay may also be granted with full re-employment rights. Health Insurance The State pays a part of the premiums for each employee's enrollment in a State sponsored Medical, Drug, Vision, and Dental Plan. For more information, visit the Employer Union Trust Fund website for coverage and options. Group Life Insurance The State provides a free life insurance policy for employees. Retirement Plan The State contributes to a retirement plan for eligible employees. Generally, employees under the Hybrid Plan with 10 years of credited service and who have reached 65 years of age or have 30 years of credited service and have reached 60 years of age may retire and receive benefits. To find out more about the options you have, go to Premium Conversion Plan Participating employees may increase their take-home pay by having the State deduct the cost of health care premiums before payroll taxes are withheld. Flexible Spending Accounts Eligible employees can reduce their federal and state income taxes and social security taxes through a tax-savings benefit program called Island Flex. This program allows employees to set aside money from their paychecks to pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses and eligible dependent care expenses on a BEFORE-TAX basis. Transportation Benefits Participating employees may increase their take-home pay by having the State deduct qualified transportation expenses (i.e. eligible parking fees, monthly bus passes for TheBus, fare coupons for The Handi-Van, Vanpool Hawaii participation fee, etc.) through pre-tax payroll deductions