Tobacco Dependence Advisor | Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust; Uxbridge; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Uxbridge is seeking a Tobacco Dependence Advisor to spearhead tobacco cessation initiatives within inpatient mental health facilities. The advisor will coordinate interventions, support staff training, and track treatment outcomes to ensure patients achieve a smoke-free lifestyle. This role offers a supportive environment for professionals wishing to contribute to public health through effective tobacco management strategies.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive working environment

Qualifications

• Experience in providing smoking cessation support.
• Strong understanding of tobacco dependence treatment.
• Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team setting.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and deliver stop-smoking interventions.
• Support and train ward staff in tobacco dependence strategies.
• Maintain accurate records of patient treatments.

Skills

Behavioural support

Training and guidance

Client assessment

Communication skills

Education

Relevant health-related qualification

Tools

SystmOne

Carbon monoxide monitor

Job description

Our inpatient mental health services are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people with severe mental illness. As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, we are embedding tobacco dependence treatment as a routine part of inpatient care. By joining our team, you will play a vital role in helping patients to live smoke‑free, improving both their physical and mental health.

The Tobacco Dependence Advisor will oversee and deliver specialist support to patients admitted to mental health inpatient wards who smoke or use tobacco. The postholder will support junior staff in providing behavioural support and, where appropriate, pharmacological treatment to help patients manage withdrawal and work towards a smoke‑free future.

The lead advisor will also support ward staff by providing training, guidance, and resources to embed tobacco dependence treatment as part of routine care, in line with the NHS Long Term Plan.

What you will do

• Co‑ordinate and support the delivery of one‑to‑one and group‑based stop smoking interventions to patients.
• Assess tobacco use and create personalised quit plans.
• Support safe prescribing and use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and other stop smoking medications.
• Work alongside junior Tobacco advisors and ward staff, psychiatrists, pharmacists, and nurses to embed tobacco treatment into care.
• Lead on providing training and guidance to staff on supporting patients with tobacco dependence.
• Ensure patients are referred to community stop smoking services on discharge for ongoing support.
• Lead and coordinate the junior Tobacco Advisors, ensuring all aspects of the model and documentation on the NHS digital platform are submitted on time.

Supporting Staff & Service Integration

• Provide training and support to ward staff on delivering brief advice and reinforcing smoke‑free policies.
• Function as a resource for staff on managing tobacco dependence within the inpatient setting.
• Collaborate with the wider multidisciplinary team (psychiatrists, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, occupational therapists) to ensure tobacco treatment is embedded in care planning.

Service Delivery & Reporting

• Maintain accurate records on patient support provided, treatment outcomes, and follow‑up.
• Use clinical data systems (e.g., SystmOne) to record activity and outcomes.
• Support patients with referrals to community stop smoking services on discharge to ensure continuity of care.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting for commissioners and service managers.
• Support in the documentation of the NHS Patient Level Digital Submissions.

Governance & Safeguarding

• Ensure all care is delivered in line with NICE guidance, Trust smoke‑free policy, and safeguarding requirements.
• Manage patient information sensitively and confidentially, adhering to GDPR and information governance policies.

Local Promotion & Operational Requirements

• Provide evidence‑based, specialist behavioural support and advice to smokers who wish to quit when admitted to the mental health wards.
• Ensure ongoing support post discharge and engagement with local stop smoking services in the community.
• Perform local promotion of the service focused on CNWL Mental Health In‑Patient Services.
• Ensure accurate recording of client information and timely input onto the bespoke stop smoking database.
• Work within the service hours of Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 5.00 pm, with a late evening clinic for those who cannot attend daytime appointments.

Clinical Duties

• Provide smoking cessation interventions in line with the evidence base and agreed national standards.
• Utilise motivational techniques, assess clients’ motivation to quit smoking, and maintain relationships with the client group to support cessation.
• Develop an action plan with the client and discuss the use of appropriate pharmacological support suitable to them.
• Attend bespoke training events as required for career and continuous professional development.
• Maintain extensive knowledge of health‑related behaviour change evidence and be responsible for continuous learning of smoking cessation using the NCSCT online training packages.
• Comply with statutory and mandatory requirements in line with CNWL policy.
• Review own practice in comparison to others to ensure continual improvement within the team.
• Assess clients’ motivation to quit to determine best course of action in their quit attempt.
• Review personal objectives to ensure that they are effectively met in accordance with service work‑plan.
• Ensure that service delivery is maintained and suggest contingency plans for clinic delivery for any planned absence.
• Participate in regular reviews of service provision including venues, frequency and timing to ensure the needs of the client’s needs are met.
• Work autonomously and use keyboard and IT equipment for communication, report preparation etc.
• Use a carbon monoxide monitor to assess clients’ levels and ensure agreed policies and procedures are implemented and adhered to.
• Maintain the care, maintenance, and use of relevant service equipment, including CO monitors and display equipment.
• Supervise junior band 4 Tobacco Dependence Advisors in Mental Health.
• Participate in self‑development to continually improve performance and undertake identified development activities.

Communications and Relationships

• Provide and receive highly complex and sensitive information and manage barriers to understanding across different organisations, service types, professional disciplines, clients, and relatives/carers.
• Attending and contributing to all appropriate management, business, clinical meetings, supervision groups, and staff support groups within scope of responsibility.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and case discussions both in the hospital and with community treatment services.
• Communicate clinical information with partner agencies within the protocol for sharing confidential information between substance misuse services, the hospital and other partner agencies.
• Develop and maintain effective communication links with key operational and strategic partners and undertake multi‑agency planning to ensure well‑coordinated services.
• Maintain accurate, up‑to‑date documentation of all service client records in line with the Data Protection Act and Information‑Sharing Protocol.

Volunteer salary and benefits are not advertised here, but the position offers a supportive working environment within the CNWL Foundation Trust, with opportunities for professional development and contributing to an important public health service.

Application Details

• Please note that this vacancy does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker sponsorship unless you meet the criteria by temporary exemption from current changes to immigration rules put in force on 22/07/2025. Separate provisions are applied to workers who have been sponsored and held continuously Skilled Worker visa since prior to 04/04/2024.
• If you don’t meet the transitional provision, we are unable to consider your application unless you can provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the United Kingdom.
• For further information, please visit: Skilled Worker visa – Overview – GOV.UK.

This advert closes on Thursday 11 Dec 2025.