Tobacco Dependence Specialist

Job overview

King’s College Hospital NHs Foundation Trust went smokefree on 19 th January 2015. To date our smokefree work has received national recognition as an example of good practice and innovation. Following the selection of King’s as a national pilot site for the implementation of a version of the ‘Ottawa Model’ of hospital based smoking cessation, the Tobacco Dependence Team (TDT) was established January 2020 to deliver routine support for inpatients that smoke.

The main focus of the role is to provide comprehensive tobacco dependence treatment for sick patients that smoke. The post-holder will be expected to establish therapeutic relationships with smokers admitted to hospital, providing specialist support during and after the patient’s hospital stay.

Main duties of the job

To provide specialist support to sick patients that smoke during and after the patients hospital stay.

Deliver evidenced based nicotine dependence treatment in accordance with Department of Health, NICE and NCSCT guidelines.

Support and promote KCH 'Smokefree' policy.

Support the delivery and the development of the Tobacco Dependence Team.

To provide continuity of support between hospital and community based services.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. 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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Treatment provision

· Deliver evidence-based nicotine dependence treatment in accordance with Department of Health, NICE and NCSCT guidance.

· Support and promote the KCH Smokefree Policy.

· Support inpatients to make a quit attempt or abstain temporarily during their admission.

· Formulate, document and evaluate tobacco dependence treatment, in collaboration with smokers and their care teams.

· Carry out comprehensive assessments of smoker’s needs, ensuring correct pharmacotherapies are administered.

· Review smoker’s level of withdrawal symptoms and ability to manage nicotine withdrawal, providing appropriate support.

· Review patients within 24hr following 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, nursing and pharmacy teams to ensure optimal withdrawal management for smokers.

· Liaise and provide professional support to designated ward smokefree champions.

· Act as a specialist resource for staff on tobacco dependence issues.

· Maintain support and continuity of care when patients are transferred to another ward/speciality.

· Deliver routine telephone based follow up and support to patients after discharge from hospital.

· Provide specialist support and encouragement to patients with low motivation to quit smoking or low confidence in remaining smokefree.

· Provide tobacco dependence support to staff.

· To manage a caseload of clients independently and prioritise patient’s needs.

· To contribute to the ongoing development, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of the tobacco dependence treatment team .

· Actively participate in and promote national campaigns such as Stoptober, Lung Cancer Awareness and No Smoking Day, to patients, visitors and staff.

1. Service development

· Support the delivery and development of the Tobacco Dependence Team.

· Actively promote and support the Trust’s Smokefree Policy.

· Provide continuity of support between hospital and community based services.

· Assess staff support for treating tobacco dependence, identifying barriers to project development and making appropriate recommendations.

· Maintain comprehensive service data to capture activity levels

.

Personal and Professional

· Plan and organise own workload to ensure service demands are met.

· Act as an ambassador for the Tobacco Dependence Team.

· Review and share best practice with other health care professionals to maintain high standards of service delivery.

· Attend in-house supervision and training sessions.

· Comply with Trust code of ethics and local and national procedures.

· Develop knowledge and expertise in supporting smokers with a range of health conditions.

· Acting as a specialist resource for health care professionals, in the acute trust.

· To work independently with patients, recognising when there is a need to defer to a more senior member of staff for advice and support.

· To liaise with GPs, pharmacies and local NHS stop smoking services to facilitate access to specialist support and pharmacotherapy in line with local protocols and procedures.

· Work flexibly to ensure service continuity and demands are met.

Deliver Specialist Training

• Ensure that staff in target clinical areas are trained in very brief advice (VBA) either through the KHP online training module or by delivering face to face training.

· Promote and deliver Very Brief Advice (VBA) and bespoke tobacco liaison training to a range of staff within the hospital.

· Ensure that all training meets the national standards set by the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training.

· Support students on clinical placements to enhance tobacco dependence treatment knowledge and skills

· Deliver preventative/educational workshops and presentations for service users and community groups.

· Keep informed of developments and innovation in practice and ensure all training, information and advice is up to date and evidence based.

Data and Evaluation

· Maintain appropriate confidential records and data systems.

· Ensure patient records and service data is accurate and up to date.

· Maintain supervision records for quality and audit purposes.

· Use data to analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions,

· To use monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, making recommendations to inform project development.

Person specification

Knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of delivering tobacco dependence treatment to patients in an acute setting
• Experience of working with colleagues from other clinical specialties to implement and develop routine support for tobacco dependent patients
• Up to date knowledge of latest guidance to support the delivery of effective interventions to treat tobacco dependence.
• Comprehensive understanding of tobacco dependence treatments, support and evidence base.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working with multidisciplinary teams in an acute setting.

Education

Essential criteria

• Educated to degree level
• Post graduate qualification or significant experience of working in a relevant discipline (addiction treatment, psychosocial support and changing health behaviours)

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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