Tobacco Dependence Advisor (TDA)

Provide CIC; Great Yarmouth; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A community health service organization in England is seeking a Tobacco Dependence Advisor to support smoking cessation in Emergency Departments across Norfolk. The ideal candidate will engage with patients, deliver evidence-based advice, and work collaboratively with healthcare teams to reduce smoking prevalence. This role is perfect for those with a background in health care or lifestyle services, and a passion for public health. Flexibility and adaptability are crucial as the role may involve travel between different hospital sites.

Benefits

Continuous professional development opportunities

Flexible working practices

Commitment to equal opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in public health roles is desirable.
• Lived experience of tobacco dependence can enhance patient support.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Promote smoking cessation services in the Emergency Departments.
• Engage with patients and provide brief advice.
• Maintain professional relationships and manage a caseload.

Skills

Motivational interviewing

Patient-centred support

Public health knowledge

Education

Experience as Health Care Assistant or in Lifestyle Services

Job description

Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated individual to join us as a Tobacco Dependence Advisor (TDA), supporting the delivery of the new Emergency Department Stop Smoking Service operating within Norfolk's three acute hospital Trusts. You will be based at James Paget University Hospital, and the service operates across Norfolk's three acute hospital sites. The post holder may be required to work flexibly across the Trust throughout the contract, including travelling to and working from different sites such as Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn.

Responsibilities

• To promote the new service in Norfolk Acute Trusts
• Proactively identify and engage with adult patients and visitors attending the three Emergency Departments in Norfolk who smoke and deliver Very Brief Advice (VBA) informing and encouraging them to engage with the smoking cessation services on offer.
• Providing immediate, evidence-based, non-judgemental advice and support using brief intervention models tailored to the Emergency Department setting.
• Offering free vape starter kits to support immediate quit attempts, consistent with national harm reduction guidance.
• Recording engagement, quit attempts, and referrals to inform performance monitoring, service evaluation, and reporting.
• Maintaining contact with the patient, contacting them within 48 hours of engagement and at least once a week prior to the 28‑day quit date up to 6 weeks.
• Working to monthly targets to ensure that KPIs are met and adapt and target delivery in line with projected outcomes for long‑term success.
• Reduce smoking prevalence and smoking‑related health inequalities by providing evidence‑based smoking cessation support to adult smokers attending Emergency Departments (EDs) in Norfolk.
• Reduce future Emergency Department attendances and hospital admissions linked to smoking‑related conditions.
• Increase the number of quit attempts and successful smoking cessation outcomes.
• Contribute to improved population health outcomes and reduced burden on the NHS through early intervention.
• Support the Government's ambition for Smokefree communities by 2030.
• Reduce inequalities in smoking prevalence and tobacco‑related harm among disadvantaged populations.
• Embed the smoking cessation offer as part of a whole‑system approach in collaboration with acute, community, and public health partners.
• Manage a caseload of participants identified as part of the Emergency Department Stop Smoking Service independently.
• Using techniques such as motivational interviewing and Making Every Contact Count (MECC) to support sustained behaviour change.
• Ensuring inclusive engagement with individuals and communities experiencing the highest burden of smoking‑related harm.
• Working collaboratively with acute trusts, local authority public health teams, and community partners to develop and strengthen local cessation pathways.
• Where vaping is not deemed appropriate for the patient, establishing alternative support in the community.
• Patients that require alternative pharmacotherapy or more intensive support will be referred to the appropriate service.
• Recording the details of those using the service by completing the documentation supporting the project in accordance with agreed SOPs.
• Inputting patient data onto local system and PharmOutcomes, ensuring all data is input accurately and thereby monitoring and auditing reports.
• Working as part of the wider team with other TDAs, health professionals and ED Smoking champions.
• To maintain professional working relationships within Norfolk Acute Trusts and other relevant organisations.
• To be responsible for continuous professional development, maintaining up‑to‑date knowledge of evidence‑based practices, techniques, and emerging guidance (including NICE). Complete all mandatory Trust training and NCSCT modules as required and proactively engage with ongoing learning relevant to the service.
• To be responsible for managing own daily timetable of delegated tasks including time for supervision and training.
• Carry out administrative duties as required by the role.
• Attend educational events, ED departmental meetings.

Qualifications

This role is ideal for a Health Care Assistant seeking a new challenge, or someone with Lifestyle Services experience and a passion for improving public health. We also welcome applications from individuals who bring lived experience of tobacco dependence or behaviour change, as this insight can greatly enhance empathetic, patient‑centred support.

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to equal opportunities, flexible working practices and the National Living Wage. Provide is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills, proud to have LGBT+, Ethnic Minority and Men's Networks.

About Provide

Provide is a Community Interest Company (social enterprise). We deliver a broad range of health and social care services in the community, and are committed to making sure that they are safe, responsive and of high quality. Provide is owned by its employees and has primarily social objectives. Any profits we make are reinvested into the local community or back into delivering services. We work from a variety of community settings, including community hospitals, community clinics, schools, nursing homes and primary care settings, as well as within people’s homes, to provide more than 40 services to children, families and adults across Essex, Dorset, East Anglia and the North of England.

Vision: Transforming Lives
Values: Care, Innovation and Compassion
Mission: An ambitious, employee owned social enterprise, growing in size and influence. We transform lives by treating, caring and educating people.