(1) In addition to the requirements established in this subchapter, each mental health center providing child and adolescent and adult intensive case management services shall comply with the requirements established in this rule.

(2) Each mental health center providing intensive case management program services shall:

(a) employ or contract with a program supervisor, experienced in providing services to individuals with a mental illness. The program supervisor shall meet with each intensive case manager, either individually or in a group meeting, at least every 30 days. Individual supervision of case managers must be offered by the mental health center as needed and may be initiated by either the case manager or the supervisor;

(b) employ or contract with case managers who have the knowledge and skills needed to effectively perform case management duties. Minimum qualifications for a case manager are a bachelor's degree in a human services field with at least one year of full-time experience serving people with mental illnesses. Individuals with other educational backgrounds who, as providers, consumers, or advocates of mental health services have developed the necessary skills, may also be employed as intensive case managers. The mental health center's case management position description must contain equivalency provisions;

(c) train the program supervisor and program staff in the therapeutic de-escalation of crisis situations to ensure the protection and safety of the clients and staff. The training must include the use of physical and non-physical methods of managing clients and must be updated, at least annually, to ensure the maintenance of necessary skills;

(d) maintain progress notes for each client. The progress notes must be entered into the client's clinical record at least every 30 days and upon the occurrence of any significant change in the client's condition;

(e) develop written policies and procedures addressing the independence of the intensive case manager and intensive case management program. At a minimum, the policies and procedures must address:

(i) the intensive case manager acting as a client's advocate in involuntary commitment proceedings;

(ii) the intensive case manager's role in conflicts between the client and the mental health center or other agencies;

(iii) the ability of the intensive case manager to freely advocate for services from or outside of the mental health center on behalf of the client;

(iv) the relationship between the primary therapist, if the client has one, and the case manager;

(v) the obligation to report information to the mental health center staff that the client has requested to be kept confidential; and

(vi) the ability of the intensive case manager to contact an advocacy organization if the case manager believes the mental health center is unresponsive to the needs of the client.

(3) The availability of intensive case management services may not be made contingent upon a client's willingness to receive other services. A client suspended or excluded from other programs or services provided by the mental heath center may not be restricted or suspended from intensive case management services solely due to the action involving the other program or services.

(4) Intensive case management services are largely provided throughout the community rather than in an office or a facility. All contacts with clients must occur in a place that is convenient for the client. More than 50% of a case manager's in person contacts with clients must be outside of the mental health center's facility. Restrictions may not be placed on a case manager's ability to meet with a client in any reasonable location.