Tobacco Dependency Advisor (NN)

Job 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 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Although the post will have a designated base, the service operates across Norfolk’s three acute hospital sites, and the post holder may be required to work flexibly across the Trust throughout the contract. This may include travelling to and working from different sites, such as:

• James Paget University Hospital
• Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn

The aim of this role is to proactively identify and engage adult smokers, including both patients and accompanying adults. You will provide brief interventions, offer advice, supply a vape kit, and deliver evidence-based support to help individuals begin their journey toward stopping smoking.

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.

If you enjoy patient-facing work and are motivated by helping people achieve meaningful, long-term health improvements, this is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference.

Main duties of the job

• 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• 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 professional 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.
• Responsibility for the promotion of the Service within ED.

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.