HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.279 2.280 VICTIM WITNESS COUNSELOR II and III 20240701PART I DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
COUNTY OF KAUAI
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2.280
Class Specifications for the Class:
VICTIM/WITNESS COUNSELOR II & III
SR-20, BU-13
SR-22, BU-13
Duties Summary:
Provides counseling, notification, information, and related services to victims of and
witnesses to crimes; provides support to victims and witnesses throughout their
participation in the criminal justice process; provides assistance to eligible victims in
applying for compensation; and performs other related duties as required.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
These classes are distinguished by their responsibility for providing comprehensive
counseling and related services to victims/witnesses of criminal acts ranging from the
simplest to the most complex cases.
Grade II: This level is characterized by its responsibility for providing counseling
services to victims and witnesses that generally involve the handling of moderately difficult
cases.
Grade III: This level is characterized by its responsibility for independently providing
counseling services to victims and witnesses that involve the full range and variety of
counseling assignments to include the most difficult cases.
Examples of Duties: (The following are examples of duties and are not necessarily
descriptive of any one position in this class. The omission of specific duties statements does
not preclude management from assigning such duties if such duties are a logical
assignment for the position).
• Provides counseling services to victims and witnesses with complicated or multiple
physical, emotional, or social difficulties;
• Provides information on law enforcement, the criminal justice system, the role of the
Prosecutor, etc.;
• Notifies victims and witnesses of case status and court dispositions;
• Informs, prepares, and accompanies victims and witnesses to appear and testify in
court;
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• Arranges flight and hotel accommodations for victims and witnesses returning for
court;
• Provides transportation to and from court;
• Helps in identifying and/or obtaining emergency food, shelter and clothing for victims
and their families;
• Coordinates with and/or refers victims and witnesses to appropriate public and
private community agencies and organizations, including the Crime Victim
Compensation Commission;
• Assists in expediting the return of stolen property to victims;
• Maintains case files on victims and witnesses;
• Prepares correspondence, reports, and other documents;
• Communicates effectively both orally and in writing; and
• Performs other related duties as required.
Knowledge of:
Laws, rules, and regulations relating to the State Department of Public Safety's Crime
Victim Compensation Commission; public agencies and community organizations that
provide services and/or benefits to qualified individuals; basic counseling and social work
techniques and methods; general understanding of child development.
Ability to:
Collect, analyze, and evaluate information; establish and maintain effective working
relationships with victims and witnesses, representatives of other governmental agencies,
community organizations, the general public and co-workers; present ideas and information
clearly and concisely orally and in writing.
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This is a retitling to the specification for the class VICTIM/WITNESS COUNSELOR II,
which was approved as VICTIM/WITNESS COUNSELOR I on June 2, 1986; and a retitling to
the specification for the class VICTIM/WITNESS COUNSELOR III, which was approved as
VICTIM/WITNESS COUNSELOR on July 28, 1982, amended and retitled to VICTIM/WITNESS
COUNSELOR II on June 2, 1986. Both classes were amended on December 16, 2005, and
August 24, 2022, and this is to be substituted for those specifications.
Approved: July 1, 2024
(date) ANNETTE L. ANDERSON
Director of Human Resources
PART II DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
COUNTY OF KAUAI
2.279
2.280
Minimum Qualification Specifications
for the Class:
VICTIM/WITNESS COUNSELOR II & III
SR-20, BU-13
SR-22, BU-13
Training and Experience:
A combination of education and experience substantially equivalent to graduation
from an accredited college or university with a baccalaureate degree in sociology, social
work, psychology, or a related field; and for
Level II: two (2) years of professional counseling experience in social services which
involved one or a combination of the following: crises intervention, psycho-social evaluation,
or victim/witness advocacy.
Level III: three (3) years of professional counseling experience in social services
which involved one or a combination of the following: crises intervention, psycho-social
evaluation, or victim/witness advocacy.
Substitutions Allowed:
The following may be substituted for education:
General professional work experience or education credits can be substituted for up to two
(2) years of the Bachelor’s degree such as:
A. Full-time progressively responsible professional, technical, or substantive work
experience demonstrating the scope, level, and quality of work comparable to a
curriculum leading to an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree.
B. Successful completion of semester credits in a curriculum leading to a degree or
diploma at an accredited community college, trades school, college, or university (15
semester credits = 6 months).
Specialized professional work experience in sociology, social work, psychology, or a related
field or education credits in sociology, social work, psychology, or a related field can be
substituted for up to four (4) years of the bachelor’s degree such as:
A. Full-time progressively responsible professional, technical, or substantive work
experience demonstrating the scope, level, and quality of work comparable to a
curriculum leading to an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree.
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B. Successful completion of semester credits specific to sociology, social work,
psychology, or a related field leading to a degree or diploma from an accredited
community college, trades school, college, or university (15 semester credits = 6
months).
A Master’s or PhD degree in sociology, social work, psychology, or a related field may be
substituted for the education requirement.
The following may be substituted for experience:
A. Successful completion of semester credits specific in sociology, social work,
psychology, or a related field leading towards a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited
college or university, may be substituted for up to two (2) years of the specialized
work experience requirement (15 semester credits = 6 months).
B. Successful completion of semester credits specific in sociology, social work,
psychology, or a related field leading towards a Master’s, or PhD degree from an
accredited college or university, may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the
specialized work experience requirement (15 semester credits = 6 months).
C. A Master’s degree in sociology, social work, psychology, or a related field from an
accredited college or university may be substituted for one (1) year of the specialized
work experience requirement.
D. A Doctorate’s degree in sociology, social work, psychology, or a related field from an
accredited college or university may be substituted for one (1) year of the specialized
work experience requirement.
If a degree is used to substitute for the education requirement, it may not be used
again towards the experience requirement. If work experience is used to substitute for
education, it may not be used again to meet the experience requirement. If the applicant
holds more than one degree, transcripts must be provided, and a thorough review will be
conducted by the human resources staff in order for more than one degree to be credited
towards the minimum qualification requirements. Additional degrees can be considered if
obtained independently through mutually exclusive classes from another degree being
considered. Substitutions will be used to the advantage of the applicant.
Quality of Experience:
Possession of the required number of years of experience will not in itself be
accepted as proof of qualification for a position. The applicant's overall experience must
have been of such scope and level of responsibility as to conclusively demonstrate that they
have the ability to perform the duties of the position for which they are being considered.
License Requirement:
Possession of the appropriate licenses or certificates as required of the position.
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Selective Certification:
Specialized knowledge, skills and abilities may be required to perform the duties of
some positions. For such positions, Selective Certification Requirements may be
established, and certification may be restricted to eligibles who possess the pertinent
experience and/or training required to perform the duties of the position.
Departments/Agencies requesting Selective Certification must show the connection
between the kind of training and/or experience on which they wish to base selective
certification and the duties of the position to be filled.
Tests:
Applicants may be required to qualify on an appropriate examination.
Health and Physical Condition 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
This is a retitling to the specification for the class VICTIM/WITNESS COUNSELOR II,
which was approved as VICTIM/WITNESS COUNSELOR I on June 2, 1986; and a retitling to
the specification for the class VICTIM/WITNESS COUNSELOR III, which was approved as
VICTIM/WITNESS COUNSELOR on July 28, 1982, amended and retitled to VICTIM/WITNESS
COUNSELOR II on June 2, 1986. Both classes were amended on December 16, 2005, and
August 24, 2022, and this is to be substituted for those specifications.
Approved: July 1, 2024
(date) ANNETTE L. ANDERSON
Director of Human Resources