Public Safety Counselor - SR-26

Salary : $76,788.00 Annually

Location : Future vacancies with immediate vacancy in Hilo, HI

Job Type : Permanent & Temporary Positions

Job Number : 2024-00177

Department : Police

Division : Administrative Services

Opening Date : 09 / 01 / 2024

Closing Date : Continuous

Duties Summary

Serves as a staff counselor for the Hawai'i County Police Department and its members including individual, couples and family counseling, assessment-related activities, operational support, and organizational / management consultation; and performs other related duties as required..

There is one (1) immediate permanent full-time vacancy with the Hawai'i Police Department - Administrative Services Division in Hilo.

The eligible list may be used for other permanent and temporary vacancies as they arise during the life o the list. Temporary appointment may lead to conversion to permanent appointment.

Examples of Duties

• Provides counseling and aids department personnel in reaching community mental health services in crisis advocacy, e.g. crisis lines and law enforcement response hotlines.
• Provides professional brief counseling for law enforcement employees and their families.
• Responsible for developing policies and procedures for providing counseling services as necessary to support the Hawai'i County Police Department (HPD).
• Provides counseling intervention services when necessary for department personnel including on location at police and / or fire incidents, crime scenes, divisions / unit offices, etc. as necessary.
• Provides comprehensive principles, methods and techniques of counseling theories and modalities. Uses various counseling measurements and resources available to help individuals, couples, and families build coping and resiliency skills.
• Provides 24 hour, on-call emergency counseling services (via telephone or in-person on scene), consultation, and assistance to HPD command, employees, and police operations. Provides recommendations and referrals for individuals to seek further treatment.
• Researches, develops, and implements material used for counseling, e.g., trauma work, activities for children, parenting skills, couples work, workplace conflict management and resolution, etc.
• Develops and provides training to Hawai'i County employees in the areas of counseling skills, stress management, suicide prevention, etc.
• Assists the PEER Support and Chaplin Corp. services as necessary.
• Coordinates care with other health care providers and agencies, as necessary.
• Makes referrals for treatment when beyond the scope of service for the County of Hawai'i.
• Maintains relevant documentation of services provided in accordance with the Manual of Operations.
• Maintains the psychological evaluation of the pass / fail testing results of recruits.
• Operate a motor vehicle to perform work-related travel.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Training and Experience :

A combination of education and experience substantially equivalent to :

Examination : All applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be assigned a score of 70 points. An education and experience evaluation will be conducted based on the applicant's training, education and experience as presented in the application.

Please read the minimum qualification requirements carefully. Be certain to list all pertinent training and experience, as this may be important in determining your examination score. It is essential that the applicant describe fully the duties and responsibilities of each position held, specify the date of each position held (from and to, month and year), and indicate the number of hours worked per week.

Attach all required documentation (e.g. official transcript, professional license(s) / certification(s), DD-214, etc.) at the time of submitting your application.

Note : In-person interviews and / or further testing in Hawai'i County may be required at the discretion of the hiring department / agency. If in-person interviews and / or further testing are required, applicants who are referred to the hiring department / agency must be available to participate in person and at their own expense at that phase of the selection process.

Knowledge of : the essential functions of public safety personnel and organizations, working conditions unique to their respective positions, and common stressors inherent in public safety work; normal and abnormal adaptation and responses to occupational stress and trauma; research pertinent to resilience and recovery in public safety personnel, and the unique and legal aspects of confidentiality and testimonial privilege when providing services to public safety personnel and / or agencies; interactive theories and principles in complex and volatile situations, appropriate solutions, and appropriate response techniques to emotionally distressed individuals; community mental health and crisis services; applicable state and federal laws related to individual's rights; applicable community resources and referral services, and third-party rights to private information.

Ability to : work independently with minimal supervision; work with first responder personnel and have empathy to identify with and understand another person's experience and point of view; communicate orally and in writing to department personnel, community members, other law enforcement agencies, other first responder agencies, and vendor representatives; communicate effectively and sensitively in person, by phone, and in writing with peers, supervisors, citizens, other law enforcement agencies and entities, and various community resources; understand first responder culture, procedures, and general orders; function effectively within a paramilitary environment; develop and implement standards, policies and procedures concerning the evaluation, counseling and referral of employees having personal, family or work related issues, and use equipment and machinery requiring simple but continuous adjustments, such as computer terminal, video equipment for telehealth, tape recorders, photocopier, fax machine, police radio, typewriter, telephone.

Physical Requirements : Persons seeking appointment to positions in this class must meet the health and physical condition standards deemed necessary and proper to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Physical Effort Grouping : Light

Benefits of County employment : The County of Hawai'i offers a competitive compensation package. Your total compensation is comprised of your salary and a generous range of valuable benefits, subject to eligibility requirements.

All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and change due to legislative actions and / or changes negotiated through collective bargaining. Please check out the benefits tab for additional information.

Supplemental Information

Please scan and attach these supporting documents to your on-line application, if required :

Veterans applying for veteran's preference points shall also scan and attach their DD-214 form and as needed, their VA claim letter to the on-line application.

PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY AS THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME.

ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION TO APPLICANTS : Please ensure that the email address and mobile phone number 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 and text messages or fail to check your email box or NEOGOV account INBOX in a timely manner. Checking your NEOGOV account INBOX daily is recommended and is the most secure method to check on notices sent to you. This is a new feature created by our vendor, NEOGOV.

Please add to your contact list. Open your NEOGOV account using your user name and password. In the upper right hand corner of the account is your name, and under your name, click on INBOX to view all notices sent you. The notices will appear here in the INBOX even in the event you don't receive it on your cell phone, computer, or other electronic device. This is the best way to check and view all notices sent to you.

You will receive a confirmation email upon successfully submitting your application. Failure to receive this confirmation email, indicates that your application was not submitted.

Benefits of County employment : The County of Hawai'i offers a competitive compensation package. Your total compensation is comprised of your salary and a generous range of valuable benefits, subject to eligibility requirements.

Medical Plan (HMO or PPO)

These benefits are administered by the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund. For more information about current employee contribution rates and plans see the EUTF website ().

All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and to legislative and / or changes negotiated through collective bargaining.

REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS. The information provided to these Supplemental Questions may be used in combination with your application to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements and / or your final score. Failure to provide detailed and complete information may result in your application being rejected or you receiving a lower score. Please do not submit a resume in place of completing the Supplemental Questions. Any information you submit may be verified.

When applying for this position, I understand that I must thoroughly complete the Education and Work Experience Sections of my application and the Supplemental Questions. This includes a detailed description of each position that I feel qualifies me for the job I am seeking.

I have read the above statement and understand that failure to provide sufficient detailed information may result in my application being rejected or my receiving a lower examination score. I also understand that I may not submit resumes in lieu of filling out the application or answering the Supplemental Questions. However, I may attach a resume to the application to provide additional information.

Applicants must meet all the requirements for the position they are seeking as of the closing date of the recruitment, unless otherwise specified. Your possession of the required amount of experience will not in itself be accepted as proof of qualification for the position. Overall paid or unpaid experience must be of such scope and responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate that you have the ability to perform the duties of the position. It is essential that you describe fully the duties and responsibilities of each position held, specify the date of each position held (from and to, month and year), and indicate the number of hours worked per week.

Note : Calculation of experience is based on full-time, 40-hour work weeks. Part-time experience must be pro-rated. Example : Twelve months of experience at 20 hours per week is equivalent to six months of experience. In addition, hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week, per work experience, will not be credited. Example : Twelve months of experience at 60 hours per week is equivalent to one year, not one and one-half years.

Did you graduate from an accredited college or university with a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Social Work, Clinical Psychology, or a related field?

Did you scan and attach a copy of your official college transcript to your application?

Do you have two (2) years of work experience in a mental health program providing counseling and crisis intervention?

If you answered "Yes" to question #5, please describe where you gained your work experience. Treat each change in employer or position separately. Include the following information :

A. Employer's name

B. Your job title

C. Specific dates of employment (from month / day / year to month / day / year)

D. Hours worked per week

E. Your duties specific to your work experience in a mental health program providing counseling and crisis intervention.

F. The percentage of time you spent performing these duties

If you answered "No," enter N / A.

Be specific and complete ALL questions for ALL experience you are claiming. The following are unacceptable responses :

If you answered "Yes" to question #5, does it include some experience working with first responders?

If you answered "Yes" to question #7, please describe where you gained your work experience. Treat each change in employer or position separately. Include the following information :

A. Employer's name

B. Your job title

C. Specific dates of employment (from month / day / year to month / day / year)

D. Hours worked per week

E. Your duties specific to your experience working with first responders.

F. The percentage of time you spent performing these duties

If you answered "No," enter N / A.

Be specific and complete ALL questions for ALL experience you are claiming. The following are unacceptable responses :

Do you have a valid State of Hawai'i Social Worker License (LSW) or a valid State of Hawai'i Mental Health Counselor License (MHC) at time of filing? (Scan and attach a copy of your valid LSW or MHC to your application.)

Do you have a valid State of Hawai`i driver's license (Class 3) or any other valid comparable driver's license at the time of filing? (Note : You will be required to submit your valid driver's license at time of hire.)

Required Question

Salary : $76,788