County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Tobacco Dependency Advisor

The closing date is 16 September 2025

Job summary

We are looking for a passionate person to join our highly skilled team delivering tobacco dependency support across County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust acute sites.

The right candidate will have excellent communication skills, be a people person and a genuine interest in supporting people to quit smoking. The role requires people who are organised, self-starters who can work autonomously and flexibly.

You will need good IT skills and will work with a variety of systems within your day to day work.

You will also be expected to undertake mandatory and role specific training within a specified timescale.

Main duties of the job

To support patients within County Durham and Darlington Trust to remain abstinent from smoking whilst admitted to acute sites and refer all those wishing to quit smoking to community services on discharge. You will support patients by creating a personalised abstinence/stop smoking plan, discussing behavioural support and provide medication or a vape.

You will treat tobacco dependency and support harm reduction by completing patient assessments, give advice and carry out support sessions with all identified smokers who are admitted to our acute sites, including stop smoking medications, working within recommended protocols and guidelines

As a smokefree champion across the Trust you will provide information, advice and support to patients, staff and visitors on stopping smoking, minimising harm from tobacco and health-related issues in line with best guidance and protocols

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within 3 months)

Details

Date posted

02 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9439-2526-0775

Job locations

University Hospital Of North Durham

North Road

Durham

DH1 5TW


Job description

Job responsibilities

Treating smokers who are admitted to CDDFT acute sites be smokefree through behavioural support and medication/vapes.

Creating quit plans to support the patients to remain smokefree.

Take Carbon Monoxide readings to support patient abstinence and monitor their dependency.

Using various computer based systems to record quit plans and medication or quit aids to support the patients in remaining abstinent whilst admitted.

Give clients encouragement and the tools to remain smokefree beyond the admission.

Refer patients on discharge to community stop smoking services where a quit attempt can be made.

Follow up patients at 4 weeks post discharge recording outcome.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Treating smokers who are admitted to CDDFT acute sites be smokefree through behavioural support and medication/vapes.

Creating quit plans to support the patients to remain smokefree.

Take Carbon Monoxide readings to support patient abstinence and monitor their dependency.

Using various computer based systems to record quit plans and medication or quit aids to support the patients in remaining abstinent whilst admitted.

Give clients encouragement and the tools to remain smokefree beyond the admission.

Refer patients on discharge to community stop smoking services where a quit attempt can be made.

Follow up patients at 4 weeks post discharge recording outcome.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Maths and English GCSE/equivalent
  • Educated to at least NVQ3 / Foundation degree / Higher National Diploma or equivalent experience.
  • Understanding of the drivers of ill health

Desirable

  • Knowledge of tobacco treatment services
  • Level 2 smoking cessation training

Special Requirements

Essential

  • Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
  • Flexibility including evening and/or weekend work

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of health and lifestyle issues relating to adults (gained through practical experience and/or a health related qualification).
  • Skills to listen, influence, negotiate and motivate individuals in relation to health related behaviours.
  • Ability to handle sensitive data with confidentiality
  • Good communication, interpersonal and listening skills
  • Good sound IT skills with experience in a range of Office packages
  • Ability to act upon own initiative, respond to changing situations with good organisational and time management skills
  • Be supportive and encouraging to people, offering advice and motivation in a non-judgemental manner
  • Ability to work well under pressure

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a partnership or with partners
  • Experience of evaluating projects or services, using a range of techniques.
  • An awareness of behaviour change models.
  • Ability to collate information and prepare reports.
  • Sympathetic, pleasant manner with the ability to negotiate behaviour changes with a wide range of people and at all levels
  • Able to deliver factual information using reassurance, tact and empathy

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with people including communicating information effectively

Desirable

  • Experience of working within a healthcare setting
  • Experience working with people in a behaviour change context
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Maths and English GCSE/equivalent
  • Educated to at least NVQ3 / Foundation degree / Higher National Diploma or equivalent experience.
  • Understanding of the drivers of ill health

Desirable

  • Knowledge of tobacco treatment services
  • Level 2 smoking cessation training

Special Requirements

Essential

  • Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
  • Flexibility including evening and/or weekend work

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of health and lifestyle issues relating to adults (gained through practical experience and/or a health related qualification).
  • Skills to listen, influence, negotiate and motivate individuals in relation to health related behaviours.
  • Ability to handle sensitive data with confidentiality
  • Good communication, interpersonal and listening skills
  • Good sound IT skills with experience in a range of Office packages
  • Ability to act upon own initiative, respond to changing situations with good organisational and time management skills
  • Be supportive and encouraging to people, offering advice and motivation in a non-judgemental manner
  • Ability to work well under pressure

Desirable

  • Experience of working in a partnership or with partners
  • Experience of evaluating projects or services, using a range of techniques.
  • An awareness of behaviour change models.
  • Ability to collate information and prepare reports.
  • Sympathetic, pleasant manner with the ability to negotiate behaviour changes with a wide range of people and at all levels
  • Able to deliver factual information using reassurance, tact and empathy

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with people including communicating information effectively

Desirable

  • Experience of working within a healthcare setting
  • Experience working with people in a behaviour change context

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

University Hospital Of North Durham

North Road

Durham

DH1 5TW


Employer's website

https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

University Hospital Of North Durham

North Road

Durham

DH1 5TW


Employer's website

https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Graeme Paylor

Graeme.paylor1@nhs.net

07920062994

Details

Date posted

02 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9439-2526-0775

Job locations

University Hospital Of North Durham

North Road

Durham

DH1 5TW


Supporting documents

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