Tobacco Dependence Advisor

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Main area Addictions /Mental Health & Smoking Cessation Grade NHS AfC: Band 5 Contract Fixed term: 12 months (until September 2026 (possible extension depending on funding)) Hours Part time - 18.75 hours per week (N/A) Job ref 333-D-AD-0580

Site Old Bank House Town Uxbridge Salary £35,763 - £43,466 per annum pro rata incl HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 11/12/2025 23:59

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London\'s population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Job overview

Our inpatient mental health services are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people with severe mental illness. As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, we are embedding tobacco dependence treatment as a routine part of inpatient care. By joining our team, you will play a vital role in helping patients to live smoke‑free, improving both their physical and mental health.

The Tobacco Dependence Advisor will oversee and deliver specialist support to patients admitted to mental health inpatient wards who smoke or use tobacco. The postholder will support the junior staff in provision of behavioural support and, where appropriate, pharmacological treatment to help patients manage withdrawal and work towards a smoke‑free future.

The lead advisor will also support ward staff by providing training, guidance and resources to embed tobacco dependence treatment as part of routine care, in line with the NHS Long Term Plan.

Our substance misuse services are dedicated to helping reduce the harm caused by smoking cessation; helping people overcome their dependency and helping clients and their families rebuild their lives and enable recovery. We are committed to working in partnership with other providers and service users in local systems of treatment and recovery.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate Tobacco Dependence Advisor to join our inpatient mental health team. This role is central to supporting patients admitted to our wards who smoke or vape, by providing specialist behavioural support and treatment to help them manage nicotine withdrawal and work towards quitting.

Responsibilities

• Co‑ordinate and support the delivery of one‑to‑one and group‑based stop smoking interventions to patients.
• Assess tobacco use and create personalised quit plans.
• Support safe prescribing and use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and other stop smoking medications.
• Work alongside junior Tobacco advisors and ward staff, psychiatrists, pharmacists, and nurses to embed tobacco treatment into care.
• Lead on providing training and guidance to staff on supporting patients with tobacco dependence.
• Ensure patients are referred to community stop smoking services on discharge for ongoing support.
• Lead and coordinate the junior Tobacco Advisors ensuring all aspects of the model and documentation on the NHS digital platform for timely quarterly submissions.
• Provide training and support to ward staff on delivering brief advice and reinforcing smoke‑free policies.
• Function as a resource for staff on managing tobacco dependence within the inpatient setting.
• Collaborate with the wider multidisciplinary team (psychiatrists, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, occupational therapists) to ensure tobacco treatment is embedded in care planning.
• Maintain accurate records on patient support provided, treatment outcomes, and follow‑up.
• Use clinical data systems (e.g., SystmOne) to record activity and outcomes.
• Support patients with referrals to community stop smoking services on discharge to ensure continuity of care.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and reporting for commissioners and service managers.
• Support in the documentation of the NHS Patient Level Digital Submissions.
• Ensure all care is delivered in line with NICE guidance, Trust smoke‑free policy, and safeguarding requirements.
• Manage patient information sensitively and confidentially, adhering to GDPR and information governance policies.
• Use motivational techniques, assess client’s motivation to quit smoking and maintain relationships to support smoking cessation.
• Develop an action plan with the client and discuss use of appropriate pharmacological support suitable to them.
• Attend bespoke training events as required for career and continuous professional development.
• Keep up to date with evidence base and national standards for smoking cessation.
• Operate autonomously, supervise junior band 4 Tobacco Dependence Advisors in Mental Health, and maintain relevant equipment.
• Participate in regular reviews of service provision, including venues, frequency and timing, and propose contingency plans for clinic delivery during planned absence.

Working for our organisation

The Addictions Directorate with CNWL Foundation Trust is a large, well‑established provider which offers a wide range of specialist NHS drug and alcohol treatment interventions to the diverse and multicultural populations in Central and North West London. Our Drug and Alcohol services include community services, and the National Gambling Service and a Club Drug Clinic. In addition, we provide smoking cessation services in Hillingdon and Camden & Islington.

Please note: This vacancy does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker sponsorship, unless you meet the criteria by temporary exemption from current changes to immigration rules put in force on 22/07/2025. “Separate provisions are applied to workers who have been sponsored and held continuously Skilled Worker visa since prior to 04/04/2024.”

As such, if you don’t meet the Transitional Provision (above) we are unable to consider your application unless you can provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the United Kingdom. If you believe you are eligible for sponsorship or already hold a valid right to work in the UK, please ensure you provide full details of your immigration status in the Pre‑Screening Immigration section of your application form.

Please note role eligibility also depends on whether the role meets the salary threshold for the relevant occupational code (SOC CODE).

Person specification

Qualifications

• Completed the National Centre for Smoking Cessation Training (NCSCT) or level 2 Smoking Cessation training.
• Completed NCSCT mental health module for smoking cessation.
• A satisfactory level of general education to include O Level or GCSE standard for English and Maths or equivalent.
• Additional modules of smoking cessation training via NCSCT for specialist priority groups.

Skills & knowledge

• Ability to be work flexibly within this setting.
• Ability to develop a therapeutic rapport with SUs particularly with clients experiencing mental health problems.
• Experience of working with partner agencies and communicating clinical information to ensure positive outcomes for service users.
• Good understanding of local and national policies relating to Stop Smoking Service provision – NHS Long Term Plan.
• Knowledge of interactions between tobacco use and psychiatric medications.

Other

• Been a non‑smoker (at least for the last 12 months).

Experience

• Experience providing support in a healthcare, mental health, or community setting.
• Knowledge of smoking cessation and evidence‑based interventions.
• Experienced in providing a range of evidence‑based behavioural change interventions.
• Substantial experience or working as a Tobacco Advisor.
• Experience of and knowledge of Nicotine Replacement Therapy.
• Experience of providing Motivational Enhancement Therapy.
• Experience of promoting health & wellbeing sessions.
• Experience of providing training & wellbeing sessions/VBA for other professional groups.
• Experience of supervising and line managing junior staff.
• Experience of working in addictions services and collaborating with client group.
• Experience of audit and service user satisfaction feedback and analysis.
• Experience and an understanding of the role of service users and promoting the ‘experts by experience’ model of service provision.
• Experience using clinical or performance systems (e.g., QuitManager, SystmOne).

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

• Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
• Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
• If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Name: Sue Murphy
Job title: Sector Manager, Tobacco Dependence Lead
Email address: sue.murphy4@nhs.net
Telephone number: 07754765318
Additional information: Please do contact me via the above if you have any queries or questions about this role.