Tobacco Dependence Specialist - Acute Tobacco Dependence Team

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will:

Communication and Relationship Skills

• To liaise with and empower patients to develop, implement and evaluate their own stop smoking plan, considering scientific evidence, NICE guidance, and the experiences of the individual patient.
• Following assessment of the patient, to provide tailored support and motivational interviewing to patients, to gain commitment to quit.
• To work within a framework of flexibility, acknowledging individual patient preferences and accommodating the needs of each individual patient.
• To educate and motivate patients in relation to tobacco control, particularly with respect to second-hand smoke and approaches to minimising risk.
• To develop and maintain effective communications and working relationships with all key smoking cessation and tobacco control partners.
• To liaise with and influence relevant health and other professionals to ensure that the service retains a high profile and acts as a key priority service for patients suffering from chronic disease.
• To continually promote the service, including distributing promotional literature, attendance at events and presentations to groups when requested.

Knowledge, Training and Experience

• Extensive relevant knowledge of evidence-based information on smoking cessation approaches and methods.
• Attend bespoke training events as requires by the Trust, local Public Health and Commissioning authorities and management for career and continuous professional development.
• Participate in the delivery of smoking cessation training for new practitioners in line with agreed standards.
• Extensive knowledge of health-related behaviour change evidence.
• Responsible for continuous learning knowledge of smoking cessation using the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT) online training packages.
• Comply with statutory and mandatory requirements in line with Trust policy.

Analytical, Monitoring and Evaluation Skills

• To meet measurable objectives including performance and quality standards in line with Trust procedures.
• Be responsible with your line manager for identifying appropriate personal development plans.

Planning and Organisational Skills

• To support the planning, delivery and recording of an effective intervention that is matched to patient need.
• To ensure that a secure, confidential record system is maintained that allows prompt access to individual patients records when necessary.
• To liaise with staff within the hospital to ensure a timely and appropriate service of high quality is delivered according to demand, need and availability.
• To prioritise patients according to pre-set criteria, effectively establishing and managing own caseload.
• To be autonomous and responsible for assessing and agreeing patient requirements on a daily basis, including planning appropriate activities and products to meet those needs, considering own annual leave as well as seasonal fluctuations in demand.
• Support the implementation of specific and ad-hoc tobacco control events to link in with national and local campaigns.

Clinical Governance

• To educate and discuss with patients the advantages and disadvantages of smoking cessation pharmaceutical products, aiding the patient to choose the product or products which best suit their lifestyle and health status.
• To keep up to date with the changing evidence base, relevant policy pronouncements including NICE guidance, clinical developments and changes as directed by management, to provide an effective, high quality, safe service for patients.
• To undertake diverse training as the opportunity arises to acquire the specialist skills needed to develop the role.
• To ensure all patient records are stored correctly and confidentially in accordance with Caldicott guidelines.
• To support flexible working practices, ensuring continuity of service provision during period of fluctuating demand.

Service Modernisation

• To liaise with NHS colleagues to ensure a streamlined system.
• To support the development of innovative approaches to increasing referrals to the Inpatient Smokfree Service.
• To be an advocate for the community-based services across the Fylde Coast and respond appropriately to requests for information, and partnership working.
• To contribute to planning, implementation and evaluation of service developments as directed.