DBS0846 Smoking Cessation Champions inSilverlink North inSilverlink North PUBLISHED THU 17 OCT 2024

The Sport, Leisure and Library team would like to invite applications to two brand new Smoking Cessation Champion posts in the service. The posts are temporary, grant funded until 31 March 2026 and will be critical in supporting residents to quit smoking.

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable illness, death and disability, and a leading driver of health inequalities in England. Around 12% of the population in North Tyneside smoke and tackling tobacco dependency is one of the most effective ways of supporting the health of residents.

As a Smoking Cessation Champion, you will meet residents face to face and contact them over the telephone to support them to quit. You will proactively contact referrals from a variety of sources, (GPs, community venues, other clinical teams, electronic referrals) and arrange needs led appointments across multiple venues in North Tyneside.

You will develop good links with community pharmacies and other community venues, (e.g. sports centres, libraries and voluntary organisations), identifying space and booking appointments. You will apply behaviour change theories to help residents quit, apply empathy and understanding across their journey, and continue to support and follow up, even if they fail.

You will balance your skills of persuasion and influencing to help them on their journey to quit. You will monitor and present the results of your interventions with stakeholders and colleagues on a regular basis.

You will be responsible for managing your own workload and appointments with the oversight of a team leader. You will be proactive in contacting existing and community leads to explore spaces for appointments which are best fit for the residents we serve. You will have great organisational skills and be able to work autonomously, as well as part of the team.

The post is subject to flexible working, Monday - Friday (7am 7pm). However, you will be required to work into the evenings covering face to face appointments and on occasion at weekends to promote the service or deliver stop smoking clinics or training. The work must be needs led.

You must be qualified to A level and have knowledge of smoking cessation theory and the practical application of behaviour change models in your portfolio.

You should be able to demonstrate how you already influence behaviour change, and the success your influence has had.

About us

To provide essential, person-centred support to help residents to stop smoking.

To provide support for partner organisations and offer the latest evidence-based stop smoking advice and resources.

To focus especially in areas and with groups where the prevalence of smoking is higher, including, but not limited to those living in areas of high socio-economic deprivation, those with complex needs, and those known to primary care.

To act as champion for smoking cessation and promote smoke free messages as part of day to day working.

Deliver stop smoking assessments, specialist advice and support including advice on smoking pharmacotherapy and e-cigarettes / vapes, working within recommended protocols and guidelines.

To provide tailored advice both over the telephone, via e-mail and via face-to-face appointments (either walk in or pre-booked) in various community settings.

To apply the stages of change model and persuasive / influencing skills to maximise positive behaviour change, (e.g. to try a quit attempt, to try replacement therapy or other support)

Engage with those who have not been successful in their quit attempts and provide additional support and resources where necessary.

Be empathetic, encouraging and tenacious in your approach

Identify referrals, book initial and follow up appointments, and record smoking status at regular intervals.

Engage with a range of practitioners, leads and clinicians across multiple organisations including the Council and Public Health, community pharmacies, Northumbria Health Foundation Trust, North Tyneside drug and alcohol partnership, tobacco dependency teams and voluntary organisations.

Understand and keep abreast of latest evidence-based stop smoking advice and resources and, where relevant, order and manage stocks related to this.

To support / upskill colleagues with brief intervention / advice around smoking cessation

Deliver group-based education with either residents or colleagues to promote smoking cessation

Support partner organisations to deliver effective tobacco dependency services.

Report on appointments and outcomes on a regular basis as designated by the team lead.

To act as an Authority champion for the healthy conversations agenda and Make Every Contact Count (MECC), with particular reference to smoking cessation.

To effectively manage personal workload and take a proactive approach to professional development.

Exercise discretion, maintain confidentiality and apply safeguarding policies where relevant.

Act professionally and in the best interests of residents / stakeholders.

Work collaboratively with colleagues and partners.