An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Tobacco Dependence Team at King’s College Hospital.
Treating admitted inpatients for tobacco dependence during their hospital stay is now a standard of care in the NHS. Effective treatment leads to substantial benefits for the patient’s health and also benefits the healthcare system.
The NHS Long Term Plan is committed to delivering tobacco dependence treatment to all admitted patients that smoke.
The primary focus of the role is to support delivery of Tobacco Dependence Treatment across the following pathway:
1. Cessation of Smoking Treatment in the Emergency Department (CoSTED)
Provision of nicotine vapes to patients attending ED.
The role may also support the following pathways as required:
2. NHS Inpatient Tobacco Dependence Treatment Delivery Model, comprising:
Providing personalised support to inpatients and post- discharge care
3. Stop B4 the Op initiative
Delivery of routine tobacco dependence treatment prior to elective surgery
Tobacco Dependence Advisors play a vital role in liaising and working with other healthcare professionals to support the patient’s tobacco dependence treatment plan and ongoing care.
The post holder will deliver behavioural interventions to patients, such as developing self-regulation skills, withdrawal management techniques, effective use of tobacco dependence medication and enhancing confidence to pursue long-term abstinence.
Treating admitted inpatients for tobacco dependence during their hospital stay is now a standard of care in the NHS. Effective treatment leads to substantial benefits for the patient’s health and also benefits the healthcare system. The NHS Long Term Plan is committed to delivering tobacco dependence treatment to all admitted patients that smoke.
Tobacco Dependence Advisors play a vital role in liaising and working with other healthcare professionals to support the patient’s tobacco dependence treatment plan and ongoing care.
The post holder will deliver behavioural interventions to patients, such as developing self-regulation skills, withdrawal management techniques, effective use of tobacco dependence medication and enhancing confidence to pursue long-term abstinence.
To achieve an effective therapeutic relationship to help treat the patient’s tobacco dependence, during their admission and post-discharge, high quality communication and rapport building skills are required.
The role will involve development of the required key skills and competencies, with the assistance of Tobacco Dependence Specialist colleagues, to deliver high quality behavioural support to patients.
The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.
We are at a pivotal point in our history, and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.
King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.
Clinical responsibilities
- Provide tobacco dependence advice and support to patients attending the Emergency Department (ED), elective surgery clinics or admitted to an inpatient ward, liaising with multidisciplinary teams where appropriate.
- Work closely with local Stop Smoking Services to ensure the appropriate support is provided as part of the patient’s care pathway.
- When required assess inpatients tobacco dependence, and with the support of Tobacco Dependence Specialists, devise an appropriate treatment plan and ensure tobacco dependence treatment is given throughout their hospital stay and after discharge.
- Deliver evidence-based tobacco dependence treatment in accordance with Department of Health, NICE and NCSCT guidance.
- Support and promote the King’s College Hospital Smokefree Policy.
- Provide effective support to patients who are committed to a goal of long-term abstinence according to the care pathway and following discharge from hospital.
- Carry out comprehensive assessments of the patient’s tobacco dependence, ensuring correct pharmacotherapies are administered.
- Formulate, deliver and document tobacco dependence treatment to patients, evaluating outcomes and working with care teams.
- Review smoker’s level of withdrawal symptoms and ability to manage nicotine withdrawal, providing appropriate support.
- Promptly reviewing patients following contact with a clinical team or hospital admission.
- Provide assertive in-reach tobacco dependence support, actively engaging identified patients that smoke in conversations about the benefits of quitting to their health.
- Deliver one to one support and treatment for patients.
- Liaise with medical, pharmacist and nursing teams if appropriate to ensure optimal care and withdrawal management for smokers.
- Maintain support and continuity of care when patients are transferred to another ward/speciality.
- Deliver regular telephone or health app based remote support to patients after discharge from hospital.
- Provide support and encouragement to non-smoking patients who have low confidence in remaining smokefree.
- Provide tobacco dependence support to staff
- To manage a caseload of patients independently and prioritise their needs.
- To contribute to the ongoing development, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of the tobacco dependence treatment team.
- Assist TDT Specialists to gather and analyse service outcome data.
- Participate in national campaigns at King’s such as Stoptober, Lung Cancer Awareness and No Smoking Day
If you have a combination of the following skills and experience, we would very much welcome your application:
Educated to degree level or equivalent.
National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (NCSCT) Certified Stop Smoking Practitioner.
Knowledge of tobacco dependence treatment and evidence base.
Patient facing work experience in a relevant discipline (behaviour change, health promotion, patient support etc.)
Experience of delivering tobacco dependence advice and support.
Adaptable to different working situations, can handle people of all capabilities and attitudes.
This is a part-time post, 30 hours per week Monday–Friday.
The contract is offered on a permanent basis. The position is based at the Princess Royal University Hospital with cross-site working at King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill.
