Crisis mental health services are intended to stabilize an individual in crisis to prevent further deterioration, provide immediate treatment and intervention in a location best suited to meet the needs of the individual, and provide treatment services in the least restrictive environment available. An agency certified to provide crisis mental health services must meet the general requirements in WAC 246-341-0300 through 246-341-0650 except the initial assessment, individual service plan, and clinical record requirements in WAC 246-341-0610, 246-341-0620, and 246-341-0640.

(1) Crisis services include:

(a) Crisis telephone support;

(b) Crisis outreach services;

(c) Crisis stabilization services;

(d) Crisis peer support services; and

(e) Emergency involuntary detention services.

(2) An agency providing any crisis mental health service must ensure:

(a) All crisis services are provided by, or under the supervision of, a mental health professional;

(b) Each staff member working directly with an individual receiving any crisis mental health service receives:

(i) Clinical supervision from a mental health professional; and

(ii) Annual violence prevention training on the safety and violence prevention topics described in RCW 49.19.030. The staff member's personnel record must document the training.

(c) Staff access to consultation with one of the following professionals who has at least one year's experience in the direct treatment of individuals who have a mental or emotional disorder:

(i) A psychiatrist;

(ii) A physician;

(iii) A physician assistant; or

(iv) An advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) who has prescriptive authority.

(3) Subsection (2)(c) of this section does not apply to agencies that only provide crisis telephone services.

(4) Documentation of a crisis service must include the following, as applicable to the crisis service provided:

(a) A brief summary of each crisis service encounter, including the date, time, and duration of the encounter;

(b) The names of the participants; and

(c) A follow-up plan, including any referrals for services, including emergency medical services.

(5) An agency must ensure crisis services:

(a) Are, with the exception of stabilization services, available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week;

(b) Include family members, significant others, and other relevant treatment providers, as necessary, to provide support to the individual in crisis;

(c) Are provided in a setting that provides for the safety of the individual and agency staff members; and

(d) Require that trained staff remain with the individual in crisis in order to provide stabilization and support until the crisis is resolved or referral to another service is accomplished.