Tobacco Dependency Advisor

Smoking is the single most important driver of health inequalities and the prevalence of smoking in our local communities is higher than the National and London average. At North Middlesex University Hospital, treating tobacco dependence is currently 1 of 5 top organizational priorities within the "Patient First" improvement programme for 2021/22. The Trust hopes that by promoting and supporting staff and patients to stop smoking, it will contribute to tackling health inequalities in our local community.
By increasing the support we offer to people who are admitted to hospital, we hope to help them to stop smoking or to reduce harm from tobacco and be smoke free during their inpatient admission (temporary abstinence). We will also provide more support to staff who wish to quit and help promote a smoke free hospital and grounds.
The postholder will work within the Trust's Tobacco Dependence Team to support the implementation and delivery of the NHS Long term plan for the treatment of tobacco dependence in Secondary care which states
"By 2023/24, all people admitted to hospital who smoke will be offered NHS-funded tobacco treatment services", + Process all tobacco dependency treatment referrals promptly and record appointments and inpatient assessments in the appropriate databases in -line with service protocols. Update records in a timely manner.
+ Maintain accurate patient records and store patient records securely ensuring data protection regulation are consistently applied
+ Deliver tobacco dependence initial assessments and follow-up advice and support sessions. Sessions should include behavioural support and support provision of stop smoking medications when indicated and work within recommended local protocols and NICE/NCSCT guidelines. This will involve face to face sessions on inpatient wards, as well as follow-up by telephone or other methods
+ Deliver Carbon Monoxide (CO) monitoring to a high standard when required
+ Develop individually tailored support plans including recommending and delivering treatments based on assessed needs, in accordance with local and national protocols.
+ Signpost refer to other health, community and voluntary services as required.
+ Act as positive role model to clinical staff in supporting service users to manage withdrawal and support quit attempts; maintain a strong visible clinical presence

Working for our organisation
North Mid is part of North Central London integrated care system - consisting of the NHS and Local authority organisations in Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey. As with other ICS's, we are working increasingly closely with partners and indeed many of our financial and performance objectives are measured at this system level. Whilst all organisations remain as standalone, statutory bodies we have an ICS infrastructure for making shared decisions and agreeing shared approaches.
We are proud of our staff and want to ensure their training allows them to provide excellent clinical care. We are also a training unit for medical students from UCL and St George's University Grenada, and for nursing and midwifery students from Middlesex and City Universities.
Take a tour of our hospital here, + Process all tobacco dependency treatment referrals promptly and record appointments and inpatient assessments in the appropriate databases in -line with service protocols. Update records in a timely manner.
+ Maintain accurate patient records and store patient records securely ensuring data protection regulation are consistently applied
+ Deliver tobacco dependence initial assessments and follow-up advice and support sessions. Sessions should include behavioural support and support provision of stop smoking medications when indicated and work within recommended local protocols and NICE/NCSCT guidelines. This will involve face to face sessions on inpatient wards, as well as follow-up by telephone or other methods
+ Deliver Carbon Monoxide (CO) monitoring to a high standard when required
+ Develop individually tailored support plans including recommending and delivering treatments based on assessed needs, in accordance with local and national protocols.
+ Signpost refer to other health, community and voluntary services as required.
+ Act as positive role model to clinical staff in supporting service users to manage withdrawal and support quit attempts; maintain a strong visible clinical presence
+ Provide ongoing advice and support to ward staff on tobacco dependency treatment issues as needed. Identify training opportunities and proactively engage with ward teams to organize briefings/ training for clinical staff on implementing Very Brief Advice and starting pharmacotherapy for tobacco dependence.
+ Attend and participate in relevant meetings including the regular Tackling Tobacco Dependency Action Group meetings
+ Ensure robust discharge planning for the patient's ongoing specialist tobacco dependency treatment/stop smoking support for patients wishing to quit. Devise and maintain a patient data base to ensure follow up calls are scheduled, carried out and documented
+ Correspond with GPs, referring physicians and other healthcare professionals, community stop smoking services and community partners as needed
+ Help to facilitate smoke free environments by educating patients and staff of the Trusts smoke free policy and support patients to manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings with nicotine replacement therapy and behavioral advice.
+ Support the project manager and wider team in promotion of National campaigns across the Trust such as Stoptober and No Smoking Day, as well as local service promotional activities, campaigns and quality improvement projects.
+ Support the evaluation and reporting of data and monthly outcomes/KPIs
+ Identify areas of service improvement based on experience, user feedback and data analysis and support the team in improving outcomes and service delivery
+ Attend regular supervisions regarding clinical work and raise any issue of concern or any training and development needs with Project Manager.
+ Provide evidence-based information to people about stopping smoking, minimizing harm from tobacco and health-related issues in line with best guidance and protocols