Tobacco Advisor

Job summary

Full Time - Hours Per Week

We have two full time roles(fixed term initially) available to deliver input across all the acuteinpatient mental health wards in the Wakefield & Kirklees localities. Therole will involve engaging individuals on their smokefree journey and developinga care plan with them to helping maintain a smokefree status during theirinpatient stay. The post holder will supportthe implementation of the QUIT Programme within the inpatient wards and workclosely with the established Barnsley QUIT team.

The successful candidatewill need to be motivated, able to work on own initiative and be enthusiasticabout the implementation of the Smokefree Policy within inpatients. Thecandidate will need to have excellent communication skills and be able tocomplete admin tasks to a good standard to ensure the data collection isinputted timely.

Main duties of the job

You will support the Trustto become a health promoting organisation, have healthy NHS premisesand to contribute to a reduction in health inequalities. This post will contribute to tackling inequalities in health throughpromoting and supporting people to stop smoking. It focuses on engaging with people in inpatientsand offering them practical support to change their behaviour to achieve theirown choices and goals. The post holderwill support the delivery of sessions for people stopping smoking and work withinpatients on their journey to stop smoking.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.

About us

Weare a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental healthand learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale,Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and arethe lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission isto help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do thisby providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employstaff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make adifference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourageand welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we valuediversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Beinga foundation Trust means were accountable to ourmembers, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people(including staff) are members of our Trust.

Joinus and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improvingthe mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet andhelp each year.

Weare committedto safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people andvulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share thiscommitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

This job description is an outline of the main duties of the post. The post holder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.

As part of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw QUIT Programme we are increasing the support we offer to people who are admitted to, or attend our Hospitals and community based services, to help them to stop smoking or to reduce harm from tobacco and be smoke free during an inpatient admission (temporary abstinence). The programme will also provide more support to staff who wish to quit and help us to have smoke free hospitals and grounds.

The QUIT programme recognises smoking as an addiction (tobacco dependency) and that it is a chronic, relapsing clinical condition that prematurely kills at least half of people who smoke. Smoking is seen as a medical condition that can be treated, rather than as a lifestyle choice.

This post will contribute to tackling inequalities in health through promoting and supporting people with severe mental health problems or learning disabilities to stop smoking. The post holder will provide tobacco treatment advice and support to individuals and groups of people, who want to stop smoking, reduce their harm from tobacco or for temporary abstinence when in hospital. This will be for both patients, staff and in some instances parents/carer of people who have been admitted.

Specifically the post holder will:

Promote the general health and wellbeing of people who use the service through offering healthy lifestyle advice and support. Work with people to change their behavior to improve their health to include patients and staff. Act as a smoke free champion promoting the smoke free message through their day to day work. Provide advice and support to ward staff, including reinforcing the training provided to inpatient teams by the Healthy Hospital Programme Manager and Tobacco Harm Reduction Manager to reduce harm from tobacco and the promotion of smoke free settings. Ensure robust discharge planning for the patients ongoing tobacco dependency treatment for patients wishing to quit or who have an ongoing harm reduction programme.

For full job description, please see attached supporting documents.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

Experience of working in the NHS in the community or hospital setting. Experience of working with people with severe mental health conditions and / or learning disabilities. Experience of providing healthcare, healthcare advice or health promotion advice to patients or members of the public

Desirable

Experience of providing help, support and/or counselling on a one to one or group basis.

Personal Attributes

Essential

Well-developed interpersonal skills. Enthusiasm and ability to motivate self and others. Commitment to the promotion of equality of opportunity.

Qualifications

Essential

Educated to GCSE (or equivalent) grade C or above in English and Maths. NVQ level 3 in Health care (or equivalent)

Desirable

Specific training in health promotion interventions.

Training

Essential

Smoking Cessation Training Level 2 or willing to undertake and successfully complete within 3 months of starting in post.

Physical Attributes

Essential

Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

Knowledge/Skills

Essential

Computer literate, experience of using Microsoft Office software. Knowledge of evidence based smoking cessation initiatives. Ability to work and communicate in group settings. Good knowledge and understanding of evidence based practice in smoking cessation, the consequences of smoking and the benefits of quitting. Ability to build and maintain good working relationships with professionals / individuals from different professional backgrounds. Excellent communication (written and verbal) and listening skills. Good organisational skills Understand and maintain confidentiality issues.

Desirable

Experience of using clinical systems. Understanding of audit and evaluation. Knowledge of principles of health promotion and issues of health inequality.

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