Community Tobacco Dependence Advisor job at London Full Time NEW

Funded by “Stopping the start: our new plan to create a smokefree generation”, the Trust has been asked to host a Tobacco Dependence Advisor, as part of Lewisham Local Authority Stop Smoking Services strategy, to reduce smoking prevalence in people living with mental illness. The primary focus of the role is to provide a comprehensive tobacco dependence treatment service with smokers who have been referred for smoking cessation support, via a SLaM community pathway, for people living in Lewisham. Providing confidential support for Trust staff who smoke and who work or live in Lewisham is also anticipated. The post holder will assist with staff training to ensure a consistent approach and adherence with tobacco dependence treatment plans and compliance with the Trust Smokefree Policy (2024).

The main duties of this job are set out in detail in the attached Job Description. The post-holder will hold responsibility for delivering patient treatment, as well as local service development, leadership, and professional development.

See attached Job Description.

The post holder will liaise regularly with the following:
Service Director / Clinical Director (As required)

Smokefree Healthy Hospital Programme Lead (Daily)

Smokefree Team Leader (Daily)

Peer Group – Tobacco Dependence Advisors (At least weekly)

Tobacco researchers (Nicotine Research Group, KCL) (As required)

Service Managers (As required)

Community Team Leaders (Daily)

Nursing staff (Daily)

Medical staff (Daily)

Allied HP staff (Daily)

Patients/carers (Daily)

NHS Stop Smoking Services (As required)

Clinical Governance staff (As required)

Treatment Provision

Following a referral notification, respond to the referral and carry out comprehensive assessments of smokers needs, including the assessment and recommendations for the use of stop smoking pharmacotherapies. This will require the post-holder to work autonomously to deliver high quality evidence-based tobacco dependence treatment in line with the SLaM’s Smoke Free Policy (2024), Department of Health & Social Care and NICE guidance, and NCSCT best practice guidance.

Respond to individual patient needs by analysing and interpreting personal factors. That may also include communicating with patient care teams and family members or carers to be able to compare and weigh up treatment options before making judgements and 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 within clinical and home environments (patients, carers, staff, visitors) in a kind, caring and compassionate manner.

The post-holder will be expected to ‘hot-desk’ and provide ‘in-reach’ treatment appointments and be able to utilise text messaging and other digital support systems to ensure additional layers of support are accessible to patients.

The post-holder will will be required to move across sites and visit many different settings both on and off Trust sites.(which may include include patient accommodation) to deliver, where appropriate, treatment as well as smokefree based groups and activities.

Liaise with clinical teams regarding the safe and effective care for the management of medication associated with stopping and restarting smoking. Facilitate access to pharmacotherapy (or, vapes) in line with Trust protocols.

Hold local responsibility for distribution and safe use of expensive equipment and is able to maintain stock control and security of stock (mostly 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 in ‘Aiming High; Changing Lives 2021-2026’ by contributing to the development and implementation of SLaM’s Tobacco Dependence Community Care Pathway.

To support the above , the post-holder will maintain a comprehensive data set to capture service activity, this will include referral attendance and outcome records to enable service evaluation and development.

Act as a resource for staff in relation to stop smoking issues, and support or signpost to overcome issues.

Effectively manage and prioritize daily tasks, ensuring timely completion of projects by organizing workload, setting realistic deadlines, and adjusting as necessary to accommodate changing priorities of theirs and others (colleagues and service users) commitments.

Supports and contributes to research and development work by carrying out research, making sure patients are aware of 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. Keep informed of and share best practice with other health care professionals to keep the service at optimum performance and, attend regular in-house supervision and training sessions with the wider Smokefree Team.

Support the professional development of colleagues and students and promote the uptake of SLaM’s smoking cessation training pathway.

Personal and professional development

• Keep informed of the latest evidence-based practices, guidelines, and emerging trends in tobacco dependence treatment, including advancements in behavioural therapies, pharmacological interventions, and public health strategies.
• Regularly review research, attend relevant training or professional development opportunities, and engage with professional networks to enhance knowledge and skills. Apply these insights to improve treatment protocols, deliver effective interventions, and support individuals in achieving long-term tobacco cessation while maintaining a high standard of care.
• Attend regular in-house supervision and training sessions individually, and together as required with the wider team and members of the smokefree programme.
• Comply with the SLaM code of ethics, Professional Conduct, national and local procedures.
• Respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and staff and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to those needs