Job Description

The postholder will be part of an established clinical service delivering intense smoking cessation support to smokers admitted to hospital and community services. Underpinning the service will be the CURE philosophy of Conversation, Understanding, Replacement & Expertise. In order to deliver this effectively, the successful applicant will need excellent communication, motivational and organisational skills and work as part of a smoking cessation team. The Smokefree Advisors will have their own delegated caseloads, working under agreed clinical pathways and within defined competence. Working under unsupervised guidance, they will be expected to motivate and engage sick smokers, provide individualised patient management plans whilst in hospital, facilitate follow-up support post-discharge and ensure effective handover of care to established community services.



Support our inpatients to adopt healthy lifestyles and provide specialist smoking cessation advice

Provide evidenced-based smoking cessation advice within the inpatient sites and community setting

Offer support to our inpatients accessing stop smoking advice, information, and support.

Actively signpost in preparation for patients being discharged to available smoking cessation resources

Provide staff updates and support staff in providing stop smoking support

Work collaboratively with inpatient ward staff to ensure smoking and tobacco related health improvement information is available.

Be aware of the relevant area's policies with reference to fire, accident reporting, infection control and health and safety.

Establish good relations with all grades of staff to ensure that good communication is maintained.

Work in a manner that always protects confidentiality.



Staff Smoking Cessation Support



Provide confidential smoking cessation support to staff across both hospital sites. Offer drop-in clinics, virtual consultations, and personalised quit plans. Work with Occupational Health and HR to promote staff wellbeing. Participate in staff health promotion campaigns and events.

As the largest single site specialist heart and chest hospital in the UK, we, at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, have a clear vision 'to be the best cardiothoracic integrated healthcare organisation'.



We provide specialist services in cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, respiratory medicine both in the hospital and out in the community.



We serve a catchment area of 2.8 million people, spanning Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and the Isle of Man, and increasingly we receive referrals from outside these areas for highly specialised services such as aortics.



Our reputation for strong performance is important in delivering the best care for our patients and high quality clinical services. This is underpinned by a culture of research and innovation, delivered in modern estate and our encouragement of flexible working in a variety of forms.



Please visit our website - https://www.lhch.nhs.uk/



Please follow this link for a tour of our site - https://bit.ly/36ylsoq



CLINICAL



Support patients in adopting the correct smoking cessation medications and behavioural therapy and show the techniques such as effective NRT delivery



Pharmacological treatments available to smokers, indications of their use, contraindications and cautions as applicable to each.



Undertake & document comprehensive inpatient and community smoking assessments to include full smoking history, past quit attempts, use of smoking cessation aids and current motivator(s) to quit

Knowledge of evidenced- based smoking cessation interventions

Deliver a patient-led treatment plan to promptly manage nicotine addiction and prevent symptoms of withdrawal whilst admitted, or in community in accordance with national and local guidelines

Knowledge of the potential side-effects of each pharmacological treatment



Monitor effectiveness of treatment programmes set for individual patients and adjust as necessary

Undertake administrative duties relating to referrals, team activity and clinics on Trust-approved clinical systems ensuring timely dissemination of patient appointments, smoking cessation aids and multidisciplinary correspondence where necessary

Act as a resource for smoking cessation knowledge and advice for the MDT within the hospital and community settings

Liaise with Communications Department to identify and actively participate in relevant and appropriate promotional events related to the work of the service

Support Clinical Lead and Team Lead in ensuring the on-going development of effective, evidence-based practice through the establishment and delivery of a programme of training and education for Trust staff



MANAGERIAL/LEADERSHIP



Motivate and empower patients to address nicotine addiction, recognising their hospital admission as a significant "teachable moment"



Develop and maintain close working relationships with ward-based medical, nursing, pharmacy staff, other Allied Health Professionals and community based smoking cessation services



ORGANISATIONAL



Be flexible in how the service is delivered across the hospital inpatient settings and community services , providing high quality inpatient telephone support (if clinically necessary) for patients referred to the service



PROFESSIONAL



Work within own level of professional competency, maintaining knowledge and skills in smoking cessation and tobacco addiction



Understand the principles of motivational interviewing and seek to apply these in all patient interactions

Ability to identify barriers and facilitators to addressing addictive behaviours

Maintain an up to date knowledge of pharmacological treatments available to smokers, indications of their use, contraindications and cautions as applicable to each.

Maintain an up to date knowledge of the potential side-effects of each pharmacological treatment and communicate these as appropriate to clinical staff and the actions to be taken should they occur.

Undertake any further specialist training as stipulated by national bodies such as National Centre for Smoking Cessation & Training (NCSCT) or National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)