Tobacco Dependence Advisor | Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Reading; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Reading is seeking a Tobacco Dependence Advisor to work with patients on smoking cessation. This role involves providing a high-quality treatment service, coordinating with mental health teams, and aiming to improve patient health outcomes. The ideal candidate will have a relevant health qualification and experience with mental health patients. This position offers flexible working hours and generous benefits including annual leave and NHS pension.

Benefits

Flexible working options

27 days’ annual leave

Generous NHS pension scheme

Excellent learning and career development opportunities

Cycle to Work and car leasing scheme

Discounts at popular retailers

Free parking across Trust sites

Responsibilities

• Act as the Hospital Tobacco Dependence Advisor promoting the Trusts smoke free policy.
• Provide a high-quality tobacco dependence treatment service.
• Work autonomously within the Mental Health Inpatient service.
• Coordinate the referrals received, carry out assessments and devise treatment plans.
• Provide risk assessment and communication with ward clinical teams.
• Liaise between inpatient services and community smoking cessation services.
• Follow up with patients to ascertain smoking status post discharge.
• Facilitate training on tobacco harm reduction and smoking cessation to staff.

Skills

Good oral, written and verbal communication skills

Experience working with patients who have acute mental health needs

Interest in reducing health inequalities

Education

Health Related Qualification or NVQ/QCF Level 5 in Health and Social Care or Foundation degree

Job description

Overview

Smoking is the largest avoidable cause of death and disability in the UK. Treating tobacco dependence is a priority for clinicians and the NHS. Berkshire Health Care has been a smoke free trust since 2015. Smoking remains the largest cause of preventable early death and patients who experience mental health issues are most vulnerable.

In order for us to continue to improve our support to patients who smoke we require a Tobacco Dependence Advisor.

Role

The Tobacco Dependence Advisor is a pivotal and exciting role based at Prospect Park Hospital within a small team. You will have the motivation and desire to work with a complex and often vulnerable group of patients to achieve the best possible outcomes, improve their quality of care and contribute to the overarching agenda of tackling avoidable illness from Tobacco Dependence and reducing health inequalities.

This role provides our patients with a real opportunity to improve their health and wellbeing through addressing smoking during their hospital admission and ensure appropriate support and follow up to continue their smokefree/ cut down journey after discharge.

A Monday-Friday 8am-4pm or 9-5 pm working pattern is just one of the attractions this opportunity provides.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Hospital Tobacco Dependence Advisor promoting the Trusts smoke free policy
• This post holder will provide a high-quality tobacco dependence treatment service, ensuring all patients referred are screened and monitored using carbon monoxide testing.
• The Tobacco Dependence Advisor will work autonomously within the Mental Health Inpatient service.
• Coordinate the referrals received and carry out comprehensive assessments and devise individual treatment plans to either help patients stop, or to reduce harm from tobacco smoking
• Provide risk assessment and support the MDT to mitigate the risk for patients who are on the caseload and ensure good communications of any risks with ward clinical teams
• Be responsible for the liaison between inpatient services and specialist community smoking cessation services to ensure seamless support for patients on discharge.
• Take the lead in post discharge liaison with CMHTs and the physical health team if appropriate.
• Follow up at 1 month to ascertain smoking status post discharge from hospital, providing face to face review if requested by the patient.
• Help facilitate training on tobacco harm reduction and smoking cessation to staff and support any staff quit attempts ensuring they receive appropriate support.

About Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Benefits

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• Cycle to Work and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Requirements (“Must haves”)

1. Health Related Qualification or NVQ/QCF Level 5 in Health and Social Care or Foundation degree
2. Significant experience working with patients who have acute mental health needs
3. Previous experience of / or a special interest in reducing health inequalities and health related harm from Tobacco Dependence
4. Good oral, written and verbal communication skills

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted. For further application tips – see the help with your application document attached once you click apply.

We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Helen Phillipson [0792567278] or email: [[e-mail]] who’ll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

This advert closes on Thursday 2 Oct 2025