Tobacco Dependency Advisor

North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Tees Valley is looking for a Tobacco Dependency Advisor on a fixed-term contract. This role involves developing treatment plans for individuals with tobacco dependency and providing behavioral support. Candidates should possess relevant experience in healthcare and be IT literate. The position offers a salary between £24,937 and £26,598, depending on experience, and opportunities for personal development in a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Health and well-being initiatives

Opportunities for personal and professional development

Qualifications

• Experience working in a health care setting.
• Experience working in tobacco dependency or addictions.

Responsibilities

• Support the running of hospital-based tobacco treatment services.
• Promote uptake of individualized tobacco dependency care plans.
• Use carbon monoxide monitors and document results.
• Manage a caseload for staff opting for smoking cessation support.

Skills

IT literate

Evidence of team working

Ability to use CO monitor

Understanding the drivers of ill health

Education

Maths and English Grade C or above or equivalent

Job description

*Fixed term contract until 31/03/2027 or secondment options available*

An opportunity has arisen to work within Tobacco Dependency Treatment Services as a Tobacco Dependency Advisor and supported by the Tobacco Dependency Service Lead to develop treatment plans related to tobacco dependency of service users. This includes behavioral support, initiation and review of nicotine replacement therapy +/1 E-cigarettes in accordance with trust guidelines.

To support the day to day running of hospital-based tobacco treatment services to ensure safe, well organized and evidenced based care is offered routinely to all identified smokers and provided to all that access the service.

To support with planning, co-ordination and maintaining a caseload for any trust employees opting for smoking cessation support via the onsite tobacco dependency team.

To support the Senior Tobacco Dependency Team in raising awareness of tobacco dependency by utilizing learning resources, supporting national health awareness campaign events and guidance to all frontline clinical ward staff and volunteers regarding smoking cessation interventions.

To support the delivery of the service key performance and reporting indicators for tobacco dependency.

The Tobacco Dependency Treatment Service operates 7 days per week and usually within office hours, although there is a requirement for flexibility around this according to service demands.

Main duties of the job

To promote uptake of individualized tobacco dependency care plans by all identified smokers admitted to hospital overnight or within maternity services.

The overall aim is to ensure where tobacco dependency is identified, our service users are offered treatment plans for temporary abstinence in accordance with the smoke free policy, leading to an increase in quit attempts made each year in alignment with the NHS Long Term Plan.

Utilize carbon monoxide monitors as part of tobacco dependency treatment plans, interpret and document results, relay findings to service users for the purpose of education and motivation.

Caseload management involved in provision of specialist smoking cessation services open to trust employees via tobacco dependency services.

Assist with the provision of appropriate pharmacotherapy

Assist Tobacco Dependency Senior team with training to hospital based staff in contact with Tobacco Dependent service users.

Plan own workload within role boundaries and under the management and guidance of the specialist nurse and public health team.

About us

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust now form University Hospitals Tees and as such you may be required to work at any site across both Trusts.

At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, we want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.

We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development.

We recruit for values and "Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool"

Job responsibilities

To promote uptake of individualized tobacco dependency care plans by all identified smokers admitted to hospital overnight or within maternity services.

The overall aim is to ensure where tobacco dependency is identified, our service users are offered treatment plans for temporary abstinence in accordance with the smoke free policy, leading to an increase in quit attempts made each year in alignment with the NHS Long Term Plan.

This role requires analytical and judgement skills in the specialism of tobacco dependency. For example, treatment plans often require consideration for the multitude of smoking-related co-morbidities and consideration is required for appropriateness of treatments alongside co-existing complex medication plans.

Analysis and judgement skills extend to appropriateness of treatment plans alongside complex social factors such as homeless populations, travelling communities, prisoners or cases involving social services.

Utilize carbon monoxide monitors as part of tobacco dependency treatment plans, interpret and document results, relay findings to service users for the purpose of education and motivation.

To be able to collect service user data (e.g. using Fagestrom and any relevant tool) to enable assessment of a suitable individually tailored health plan.

This role involves service auditing responsibilities to direct service analysis, evaluation and quality improvement initiatives.

Where appropriate, operate under the appropriate scheme for provision of pharmacotherapy such as Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) and Varenicline.

Regular analysis of medication stock levels required to provide service users with appropriate treatment either during patient stay, for discharge or as part of the staff smoking cessation services. This includes monitoring, ordering, collecting and recording in alignment with the trust medicines management policy.

Able to assess own ability and able to judge when to involve senior staff

Able to assess when a patient may cause harm to themselves or other patients.

Caseload management involved in provision of specialist smoking cessation services open to trust employees via tobacco dependency services.

Prioritise which duties to respond to first.

Plan and organise activities, such as clinics

Prioritise the delivery of care to patients under the instruction of qualified staff.

Ensure that patients are followed up within the guidelines to support a quit attempt

Assist with the provision of appropriate pharmacotherapy

Plan and deliver interventions for identified target groups.

Contribute to the long-term development of the onsite tobacco dependency treatment service.

Assist Tobacco Dependency Senior team with training to hospital based staff in contact with Tobacco Dependent service users.

Plan own workload within role boundaries and under the management and guidance of the specialist nurse and public health team.

Plan and deliver sessions to identify and engage with individuals

Support individuals to develop an action plan to change behaviours and sustain those behaviours, leading to more healthy choices and actions.

Plan own work to ensure that individual targets and workload commitments are being met and manage time effectively.

To enter relevant information regularly into an electronic database.

Expected to drive to service location.

Computer literacy and keyboard skills.

Use a carbon monoxide monitor, following training

Communicate effectively with patients including by telephone, including agreement of most appropriate tobacco dependency support programme to meet their requirements.

Communicate effectively using written and oral skills and produce accurate written records of activities and work undertaken.

Record personally generated information, contribute to updating patient records and comply with the data entry and monitoring requirements of the service.

Support the development and dissemination of publicity and support materials for the service, in collaboration with the communications team and the service.

Ensure that any database or client related data are correctly stored, processed and secured in line with departmental and Trust policies and to comply with IG requirements.

Assist with audits, surveys, and research and development activities to support improvement in practice.

Assess and develop treatment plans for patients identified as smokers and throughout the treatment period

Implement treatment plans and provide behavioral support to patients who engage with the Tobacco Treatment Service.

To work with patients on a one to one or group basis where appropriate to assess and agree a treatment and support plan to meet their individual requirements.

Assessment and subsequent support may take place in a range of venues including the smokers own home.

Communicate smoking related issues in relation to an individual patients care package in a holistic way e.g. working closely with maternity or hospital services. To communicate this effectively both to the patient and to the staff groups involved in relevant context.

Report to the relevant tobacco dependency specialist or service manager on interventions and outcomes on a regular basis.

Ensure that the service adopts a Making Every Contact Count (MECC) approach in contacts with patients.

Develop and maintain relationships with individuals and their families to educate, facilitate and promote change.

Support individuals personal health plans over time and review and revise these plans with individuals as appropriate.

Facilitate any transfer of care into Community Stop smoking provision, such as LA SSS or primary care including GP or Pharmacy

Signpost individuals to other appropriate services to further support their health and wellbeing needs.

Identify and manage any risks relating to client care

Offer therapeutic and supportive interventions to support a quit attempt

Hold motivational health conversations.

Advise patients on the use of stop smoking pharmacotherapy, including NRT, Varenicline and E-cigarettes.

Practice safely within infection, prevention and control measure

To support the day to day running of Acute and Maternity tobacco treatment services to ensure safe, well organized and evidenced based care is offered routinely to all identified smokers and provided to all that access the service. Provide support in a range of hospital based settings.

To support with planning, co-ordination and maintaining a caseload for any trust employees opting for smoking cessation support via the onsite tobacco dependency team.

To support the Senior Tobacco Dependency Team with training, utilizing resources, supporting national health awareness campaign events and guidance to all frontline clinical ward staff and volunteers regarding smoking cessation interventions.

To support the delivery of the service key performance and reporting indicators for tobacco dependency.

Additional duties as required by Tobacco Dependency Lead within remit of role and banding.

Follow policies, participate in discussions on proposed changes to procedures.

Contribute to the monitoring, evaluation and audit of the specialist tobacco dependency service. The post holder is expected to ensure their own practice meets the requirements, as well as considering and recommending improvements to the whole team.

Keep up to date with local and national policies and guidelines that impact on their role, and participates in CPD.

Contribute to service development and improvement and takes a participatory role in implementing agreed changes.

Participate in evaluation of activities and programmes to inform service delivery and development.

Assist with audits, surveys, research and development activities to support improvement in practice.

Personal duty of care in relation to equipment and resources. Safe use of equipment such as carbon monoxide monitors; maintain stock control under the instruction of the qualified staff.Order supplies as appropriate.

Support systems for maintenance and loan of CO monitors to appropriate personnel.

Maintain own equipment and resources and reports to the appropriate person when items need replacing.

Carrie out risk assessment of own equipment and activities and ensure that all equipment that is not safe to use is quarantined / disposed.

Assist Tobacco Dependency Senior team with training to hospital based staff in contact with Tobacco Dependent service users.

To support the Senior Tobacco Dependency Team with training, utilizing resources, national health awareness campaign events and guidance to all frontline clinical ward staff and volunteers regarding smoking cessation interventions.

Demonstrate own duties to new starters.

Support and cover for other members of the tobacco dependency service team and fulfil their roles when necessary, appropriate and realistic, to ensure service provision e.g. at times of sickness or extended leave of absence.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Maths and English Grade C or above or equivalent

Experience

• understand the drivers of ill health
• Working in a health care setting
• Working in tobacco dependency or addictions

Skills

• IT literate
• Evidence of team working
• Car driver with access to own car
• Ability to use CO monitor

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£24,937 to £26,598 a year£24,937 - £26,598 Salary is depending on experience