Residential Lifespan Specialist

Job ID: 34949
Agency: SD Developmental Center
Location: Redfield, SD
Salary: $24.41-28.72 Hourly, depending on qualifications
Pay Grade: H
Closing Date: 3/6/26  

This is a Full-Time 40 Hours Weekly position with the SD Developmental Center. For more information on the SD Developmental Center, please visit https://dhs.sd.gov/en/south-dakota-developmental-center. 

The Lifespan Specialist position is a versatile position that focuses on consistency and support to clients in all environments at SDDC. The Residential LS provides educational services and supports for life skills development in the areas of social skills, daily living skills, recreation, health/hygiene, and community awareness. They develop educational training curricula and gather materials for the instruction of life skills training in group and/or 1:1 settings. The Residential LS completes life skills assessments, compiles evaluations, and authors support plans as determined by the QIDP/ID Team. They initiate requisitions/purchase orders based on inventory/supply of programmatic materials and reinforcements. The LS completes, reviews, and ensures accuracy of required documents according to agency policy and procedures. The LS assesses and intervenes in crisis incidents, provides behavior support, management, intervention, and initiates/authorizes the use of restraint based on individualized behavior plans. They complete required electronic reports and paperwork, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and delivery as outlined in SDDC processes. They provide supervision and support to clients for appointments, visits, and other functions/activities as needed upon request. The Residential Lifespan Specialists supports SDDC clients in all areas from admission to discharge. 

The Ideal Candidate Will Have: A Bachelor's Degree in the human services or other related field is preferred but not required.

Experience working with adolescents or adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities or educational background in psychology, sociology, counseling, or other related field is requested.

Knowledge of:

• principles of basic human behavior;
• problems experienced by and methods of supervising people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities;
• CPR and first aid;
• Crisis Prevention Intervention techniques;
• patient’s rights;
• serious emotional disturbances;
• methods and techniques of instruction/teaching for clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Ability to:

• interpret and follow established policies, procedures, operations memoranda, and guidelines;
• communicate and correspond with outside agencies;
• travel and periodic overnights stays may be involved;
• flexible schedule which includes weekends and holidays;
• deal effectively with people from diverse ethnic and sociological backgrounds;
• be a positive role model;
• observe and listen empathetically to adolescents and adults;
• accurately recall information;
• review history, provide observation, and support to Clients to report progress and other information to ID Team;
• complete assessments, evaluations, support plans, and document progress accurately and within required timelines;
• maintain safety and security at the Developmental Center;
• lead group and individual activities with adolescents and adults;
• provide individual and/or group crisis and de-escalation discussions;
• direct adolescents and adults in scheduled tasks;
• effectively diffuse potentially explosive situations/confrontations between adolescents and/or adults;
• manage time and effectively plan and organize work responsibilities;
• communicate effectively to relay information regarding adolescents and adult behaviors and needs;
• coordinate and conduct planned treatment programs;
• understand adolescent and adult behavior and help them formulate acceptable responses to challenges they encounter;
   
• provide direct personal care as needed.