Community Tobacco Dependence Advisor | South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; Lakenheath; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization is seeking a Tobacco Dependence Advisor to support smokefree initiatives in Lakenheath, England. The role entails conducting assessments, delivering patient treatment, and engaging with clinical teams to reduce smoking prevalence among individuals with mental illness. Candidates should have relevant health qualifications and a passion for compassionate patient care.

Qualifications

• Experience in tobacco dependence treatment or smoking cessation programs.
• Knowledge of pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation.
• Ability to engage with diverse patient populations.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of smokers’ needs.
• Deliver one-to-one and group-based treatment sessions.
• Participate in service development and evaluation.

Skills

Compassionate communication

Assessment skills

Data management

Team collaboration

Education

Relevant health or social care qualification

Job description

Overview

At South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, we aim to provide excellent care with pride and compassion. The Trust seeks a Tobacco Dependence Advisor to support a smokefree generation initiative, reduce smoking prevalence among people living with mental illness, and provide confidential support for Trust staff who smoke in Southwark and Lambeth. The role includes staff training to ensure consistent adherence to tobacco dependence treatment plans and the Trust Smokefree Policy (2024).

Treatment Provision

• Following a referral notification, respond to the referral and carry out comprehensive assessments of smokers’ needs, including recommendations for stop smoking pharmacotherapies. Deliver high-quality, evidence-based tobacco dependence treatment in line with the Trust Smokefree Policy (2024), Department of Health & Social Care and NICE guidance, and NCSCT best practice guidance.
• Assess individual patient needs, interpret personal factors, and communicate with patient care teams and family members or carers to compare and weigh up treatment options before developing clinical treatment plans.
• Deliver one-to-one, drop-in and group-based treatment for patients and staff smokers, and provide opportunistic brief advice to smokers in clinical and home environments (patients, carers, staff, visitors) in a kind, caring and compassionate manner.
• Provide ‘hot-desk’ and ‘in-reach’ treatment appointments and utilise text messaging and other digital support systems to ensure additional layers of support are accessible to patients.
• Move across sites and visit different settings, both on and off Trust sites (which may include patient accommodation), to deliver treatment as well as smokefree-based groups and activities where appropriate.
• Liaise with clinical teams regarding safe and effective care for the management of medication associated with stopping and restarting smoking; facilitate access to pharmacotherapy (or, where applicable, vapes) in line with Trust protocols.
• Hold local responsibility for distribution and safe use of expensive equipment and maintain stock control and security of stock (primarily vapes used in treatment).

Service Development

• Participate in the development, implementation, success and sustainability of SLaM’s Smokefree Policy (2024) and the Trust’s strategic objectives for reducing smoking prevalence, contributing to the Tobacco Dependence Community Care Pathway.
• Maintain a comprehensive data set to capture service activity, including referral attendance and outcome records for service evaluation and development.
• Act as a resource for staff on stop smoking issues and provide signposting or support to overcome issues.
• Effectively manage and prioritise daily tasks, organising workload and deadlines to accommodate changing priorities of colleagues and service users.
• Support and contribute to research and development work by carrying out research, informing patients about the Trust’s Consent 4 Contact programme, and recruiting participants for studies linked to the smokefree programme.

Leadership and Supervision

• Act as a role model and ambassador for the Trust Smokefree Programme; share best practice with other health care professionals and participate in regular supervision and training with the Smokefree Team.
• Support the professional development of colleagues and students and promote uptake of SLaM’s smoking cessation training pathway.

Personal and Professional Development

• Keep informed of the latest evidence-based practices, guidelines, and trends in tobacco dependence treatment, including behavioural therapies, pharmacological interventions, and public health strategies.
• Review research, attend relevant training, engage with professional networks, and apply insights to improve treatment protocols and outcomes while maintaining high standards of care.
• Attend regular in-house supervision and training sessions with the wider Smokefree programme.
• Comply with the SLaM code of ethics, Professional Conduct, national and local procedures.
• Respect individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and staff, and contribute to a service sensitive to diverse needs.

This advert closes on Monday 22 Sep 2025.