Tobacco Dependency Co-ordinator for Maternity Services

Job overview

As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, all expectant women and birthing people and their partners will be offered support via a maternity smoke-free pregnancy pathway. As part of this pathway all women and birthing people who smoke will be offered NHS funded tobacco cessation treatment and follow up support.  https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/online-version/chapter-2-more-nhs-action-on-prevention-and-health-inequalities/smoking/

The post holder will work with the Public Health Lead Midwife and the maternity team to achieve element 1 of the saving babies lives care bundle and reduce smoking in pregnancy by providing individualised stop smoking support to women and families in a flexible and innovative way.   https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/saving-babies-lives-care-bundle-version-two-v5.pdf

Main duties of the job

This post will contribute to tackling inequalities in health through promoting and supporting people to stop smoking.

It focuses on engaging with people in all maternity settings and offering them practical support to change their behaviour to achieve their own choices and goals. While supporting them to make positive health changes that will improve pregnancy & birth outcomes and longer-term family health.

To provide support and guidance and co-ordinate the Tobacco Dependency Advisor team with guidance from the Public Health Lead. Liaising with multi-professional colleagues to deliver specialist clinical practice to the client group and to deliver education, research, audit and evidence-based practice within the speciality.

This Post will involve a clinical caseload and some leadership responsibilities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Work closely with the Public Health Lead Midwife, Maternity services, Health visiting, GPs, Family Hubs, statutory and voluntary groups to promote stop smoking in pregnancy and smoke free homes in line with NICE guidelines for Stop Smoking in Pregnancy.

Maintain close links with FNP, specialist midwives, mental health practitioners etc. to offer support to the most vulnerable pregnant women such as teenagers, homeless, victims of domestic violence, and women with mental health issues.

Deliver stop smoking in pregnancy interventions to a small caseload of pregnant smokers.

Coordinate the workload for the Tobacco Dependency Advisors for maternity services.

Contact pregnant women referred to the Stop Smoking in Pregnancy Service to offer appropriate support.

Assess referrals and offer appropriate interventions, based on readiness to stop smoking.

Provide regular behavioural support to women making a quit attempt.

Arrange supply of Nicotine Replacement Therapy as appropriate, adhering to protocols. Including regular communication with pharmacies by telephone and email.

Monitor progress of women making a quit attempt.

Evaluate effectiveness of interventions.

To provide a flexible service, working with pregnant women and their families in their home or at another appropriate venue according to need – this may involve some evening working. Also conducting remote consultations over the telephone, what’s app and MS teams.

Collect appropriate data, ensuring systematic record keeping and monitoring. Including regular updating on Quit Manager system.

Ensure interventions are based on best practice.

Raise awareness of second hand smoke in the home and offer appropriate support.

Deliver brief interventions on other appropriate health issues, working to the concept of “Every Contact Counts”

To promote Smoking cessation to pregnant women throughout Warwickshire

To support research into Smoking in Pregnancy and audit evidence based practice. Support line manager with reports

Ensure interventions are based on best practice and ensure that knowledge and skills are kept up to date by attending appropriate face to face training and online learning in line with NCSCT and Department of Health (DH). Participate in the training of team members, student nurses/midwives/ medical students and support workers and other teams.

Work closely with clinical lead/ line manager to update the Nicotine Replacement guidelines in line with Medicines Management guidance and National advice re products/ side effects/ new specifications/ warnings from Pharmaceutical companies

Work closely with the Public Health team, Safeguarding team, Midwives, Health visitors, Social care in line with safeguarding guidelines in order to protect the most vulnerable. Attend safeguarding level 3 training and undertake safeguarding supervision, /1:1 as per Trust policy and guidelines.

Deliver stop smoking training to Midwives, Health Visitors, Support Workers, Family Hub staff, School Nursing, other statutory and voluntary agencies in Line with NCSCT and DH.

Deliver brief interventions on other appropriate health issues, working to the concept of “Every Contact Counts”.  working closely with the  Infant Feeding Team, School Nursing, HV, FNP,

Maintain nursing/midwifery registration in line with NMC Regulations working towards mandatory revalidation guidelines.

Report incidents and undertake appropriate actions as per Trust policy and Guidelines

Implement and adhere to the Lone working policy and ensure that health and safety of team members is maintained.

To be a specialist in the field within primary care, liaising with all other disciplines both statutory and voluntary. •    To promote clinical governance ensuring clinical excellence and evidence based practice.

The post holder will practice within the National Guidelines, countrywide protocols, and quality standards as well as trust policies and procedures and comply with health and safety legislation.

Must undertake risk assessment within the work environment in order to ensure safety to self and others.

Work individually and as part of a team to deliver specialised services to a specific client group.

The post holder will frequently operate as a lone worker in accordance within trust guidelines.

Regularly audit own practice in line with agreed protocols, providing feedback to multi professional team meetings.

Participate in nursing research and audit as part of the multi-professional team within the service.

Contributes to or participates in policy and practice changes arising from e.g. audits, complaints

Measurable Result areas

Achievement of the National/Local Key Performance Indicators in relation to Smoking Cessation Services and Service Specification

Participate in clinical audits and clinical bench marking to improve service care and delivery.

Contribute to evaluation of the Service

Leadership:

Responsible for day to day management and clinical supervision of the Stop Smoking Advisors

To provide support and guidance to the Tobacco Dependency Advisors and Co-ordinate workload for the team and Warwickshire’s pregnant smokers.

Support the Public Health Lead Midwife with data collection and report writing.

Support the Public health lead Midwife with the line management of the Tobacco Dependency advisors for maternity services.

Responsible to authorise bank shift / maintains stock

Be an expert point of contact for the Tobacco dependency advisors in maternity service

Communications and Working Relationships:

Work closely with other teams such to promote the wider healthy lifestyles agenda to pregnant women and families.

Provide progress reports, verbal and written, as required.

Provide expert advice and support to colleagues and other workers.

Participate in the marketing of the Service, including promotional activities, social media and events, etc.

The post holder must be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills in a variety of methods including verbal, telephone, email, fax and written records. This regular contact is with clients and families as well as all members of the primary health team and acute providers of care.

To fully understand the rights and views of clients/users and their families, seeking out and addressing their needs and acting as an advocate.

Develop and undertake regular presentations using multimedia tools to groups of health care professionals to develop their knowledge and understanding of smoking in pregnancy.

Develop and undertake presentations to patients and carers to improve their independence and self-management skills.

The post holder may have to discuss sensitive information, which would require reassurance skills, persuasion skills and negotiation skills.  This may at times be difficult when the patient is in denial or has limited understanding.

The post holder will be expected to network and work in partnership with other trusts, organisations and the voluntary sector, both locally and nationally.

There are occasions when the post holder will have to deal with distressing and emotional circumstances e.g. supporting individuals and families after a diagnosis.

Must be prepared to work flexibly – hybrid or agile working to meet service need across the Warwickshire hospital sites.