Job summary
We are seeking 2 exceptional individuals to join us as Health Improvement Practitioners (Stop Smoking Service). This role is an exciting opportunity to provide stop smoking support to eligible individuals throughout Thurrock, in a variety of settings including primary care, secondary care, community and workplaces.
The Health Improvement Practitioner will be part of the Thurrock Healthy Lifestyle Service (THLS), which supports those living and working in Thurrock to improve their health through programmes for stopping smoking, having a healthy weight, physical activity, and NHS Health Checks. The Stop Smoking Service provides a combined programme of behavioural and pharmacological advice and support to help smokers quit, in line with best practice guidelines. The post holder will be delivering stop smoking support in a variety of settings, and using behaviour change techniques to facilitate appropriate lifestyle advice to reduce risk. The Health Improvement Practitioner will engage with a range of voluntary, community and faith sector organisations, local businesses, and Health and Social Care professionals, as well as communities and localities, to identify groups and individuals who may benefit from stop smoking services but may not traditionally engage with our services.
Main duties of the job
To provide stop smoking support to eligible individuals throughout Thurrock, in line with best practice guidelines. The post holder will work in a variety of settings including Primary Care, Secondary Care, community and workplace, and work with the wider Public Health team to target hard to reach communities and those at an increased risk. The full list of duties and key accountabilities are within the attached Job Profile and Person Specification.
Key experience and skills required:
- Minimum of 2 years experience working in a health/health promotion or closely related field
- Communication and facilitation skills to support the assessment and monitoring of smoking behaviour change.
- Good interpersonal skills to enable interaction with clients with a range of emotional needs.
- Ability to work individually and as part of a specialist mixed team.
- Practical experience of prioritising, scheduling, and managing own caseload.
- National Centre for Smoking Cessation Training (NCSCT) accredited skills practitioner qualification certificate is essential.
About us
Working at Thurrock Council
gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one
where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves
linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the
years ahead.
This is an exciting time to
join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a
positive influence on our borough.Thurrock
is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a
vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and
growing population of around 160,000 residents.
We
are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the
Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural
Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside
Shopping Centre, country parks, forests and marshes.
We offer lots of
staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We
champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome.
Thurrock
Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident
Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all
essential criteria on the person specification.We
serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity
underpins everything we do.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Stop Smoking Service delivers evidence-based support to smokers living and working within Thurrock. The service provides a combined programme of behavioural and pharmacological advice and support to help smokers quit, in line with best practice guidelines. Key Service accountabilities are:
Deliver stop smoking support within the Thurrock area in community and/or remote settings, GP surgeries, and workplaces where and when required.
Deliver a tailored and structured programme of advice, knowledge, and direct provision on assessment, of recommended products used to aid smoking cessation (such as NRT and e-cigarettes) or provision of GP letter for prescription request, where appropriate.
Engage with individuals, checking their eligibility and booking them into appointments where and when appropriate.
Record stop smoking data accurately, interpreting and effectively communicating the results to the individual and how these may be impacting on their current or future health.
Create a client-focused environment to help individuals identify risk factors that may be affecting their own health and wellbeing, using behaviour change techniques to facilitate appropriate lifestyle advice to reduce risk.
Ensure provision and timely access to high quality and appropriate risk management interventions via onward referrals into clinical or lifestyle intervention services.
Complete timely and accurate data entry and clinical recording in line with national and local Information Governance and data protection policies.
Work closely with the Single Point of Access (SPA) team and Service and Quality Managers to ensure administrative tasks are undertaken according to service protocol and standard operating procedures.
Engage with a range of voluntary, community, faith sector, local businesses, and Health and Social Care professionals, as well as communities and localities, to identify groups and individuals who may benefit from stop smoking services but may not traditionally engage with health promotion activities or NHS services.
Understand the principle of obtaining consent from individuals, guardians, or relevant others, before they receive a health check assessment, providing the relevant information for them to make an informed consent.
Understanding the main principles of information governance and data protection and adhering to policies and procedures that support them (General Data Protection Regulations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Stop Smoking Service delivers evidence-based support to smokers living and working within Thurrock. The service provides a combined programme of behavioural and pharmacological advice and support to help smokers quit, in line with best practice guidelines. Key Service accountabilities are:
Deliver stop smoking support within the Thurrock area in community and/or remote settings, GP surgeries, and workplaces where and when required.
Deliver a tailored and structured programme of advice, knowledge, and direct provision on assessment, of recommended products used to aid smoking cessation (such as NRT and e-cigarettes) or provision of GP letter for prescription request, where appropriate.
Engage with individuals, checking their eligibility and booking them into appointments where and when appropriate.
Record stop smoking data accurately, interpreting and effectively communicating the results to the individual and how these may be impacting on their current or future health.
Create a client-focused environment to help individuals identify risk factors that may be affecting their own health and wellbeing, using behaviour change techniques to facilitate appropriate lifestyle advice to reduce risk.
Ensure provision and timely access to high quality and appropriate risk management interventions via onward referrals into clinical or lifestyle intervention services.
Complete timely and accurate data entry and clinical recording in line with national and local Information Governance and data protection policies.
Work closely with the Single Point of Access (SPA) team and Service and Quality Managers to ensure administrative tasks are undertaken according to service protocol and standard operating procedures.
Engage with a range of voluntary, community, faith sector, local businesses, and Health and Social Care professionals, as well as communities and localities, to identify groups and individuals who may benefit from stop smoking services but may not traditionally engage with health promotion activities or NHS services.
Understand the principle of obtaining consent from individuals, guardians, or relevant others, before they receive a health check assessment, providing the relevant information for them to make an informed consent.
Understanding the main principles of information governance and data protection and adhering to policies and procedures that support them (General Data Protection Regulations.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma level or equivalent experience in relevant health improvement field e.g. nursing/clinical, sports science, nutrition, smoking cessation.
- Qualification in National Centre for Smoking Cessation Training (NCSCT) accredited skills practitioner certificate.
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years experience working in health/ health promotion or closely related field.
- Previous experience of providing health advice/supporting individuals to make positive lifestyle changes.
- Experience in the assessment, monitoring and application of behaviour change to support a quit attempt
- Practical experience of prioritising, scheduling, and managing own caseload
Desirable
- Previous experience in the delivery of NHS health checks.
- Previous experience in measuring of blood pressure
- Previous experience in carrying out near-patient blood testing
- Experience in working with data recording systems
- Experience of working within public health and/or community development
Special Knowledge
Essential
- An understanding of the concepts of health and wellbeing, and the benefits of making lifestyle changes.
- Knowledge of health improvement services and service delivery.
- Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the physiological and psychological effects of smoking.
- Knowledge and understanding of behavioural change models and their application to practice
Desirable
- Knowledge of the risk factors, including lifestyle factors which determine the risk of cardiovascular disease and the relative impact of these factors.
- An understanding of the concepts of health promotion, theory, and practice.
- Knowledge and understanding of behavioural change models and their application to practice.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma level or equivalent experience in relevant health improvement field e.g. nursing/clinical, sports science, nutrition, smoking cessation.
- Qualification in National Centre for Smoking Cessation Training (NCSCT) accredited skills practitioner certificate.
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years experience working in health/ health promotion or closely related field.
- Previous experience of providing health advice/supporting individuals to make positive lifestyle changes.
- Experience in the assessment, monitoring and application of behaviour change to support a quit attempt
- Practical experience of prioritising, scheduling, and managing own caseload
Desirable
- Previous experience in the delivery of NHS health checks.
- Previous experience in measuring of blood pressure
- Previous experience in carrying out near-patient blood testing
- Experience in working with data recording systems
- Experience of working within public health and/or community development
Special Knowledge
Essential
- An understanding of the concepts of health and wellbeing, and the benefits of making lifestyle changes.
- Knowledge of health improvement services and service delivery.
- Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the physiological and psychological effects of smoking.
- Knowledge and understanding of behavioural change models and their application to practice
Desirable
- Knowledge of the risk factors, including lifestyle factors which determine the risk of cardiovascular disease and the relative impact of these factors.
- An understanding of the concepts of health promotion, theory, and practice.
- Knowledge and understanding of behavioural change models and their application to practice.
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.