Tobacco Dependency Advisor; NN

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated individual to join us as a Tobacco Dependence Advisor (TDA), supporting the delivery of the new Emergency Department Stop Smoking Service operating within Norfolk’s three acute hospital Trusts. You will be based at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Although the post will have a designated base, the service operates across Norfolk’s three acute hospital sites, and the post holder may be required to work flexibly across the Trust throughout the contract. This may include travelling to and working from different sites.

• James Paget University Hospital
• Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn

The aim of this role is to proactively identify and engage adult smokers, including both patients and accompanying adults. You will provide brief interventions, offer advice, supply a vape kit, and deliver evidence‑based support to help individuals begin their journey toward stopping smoking.

This role is ideal for a Health Care Assistant seeking a new challenge, or someone with Lifestyle Services experience and a passion for improving public health. We also welcome applications from individuals who bring lived experience of tobacco dependence or behaviour change, as this insight can greatly enhance empathetic, patient‑centred support.

If you enjoy patient‑facing work and are motivated by helping people achieve meaningful, long‑term health improvements, this is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference.

• To promote the new service in Norfolk Acute Trusts
• Proactively identify and engage with adult patients and visitors attending the three Emergency Departments in Norfolk who smoke and deliver Very Brief Advice (VBA) informing and encouraging them to engage with the smoking cessation services on offer.
• Providing immediate, evidence‑based, non‑judgemental advice and support using brief intervention models tailored to the Emergency Department setting.
• Offering free vape starter kits to support immediate quit attempts, consistent with national harm reduction guidance.
• Recording engagement, quit attempts, and referrals to inform performance monitoring, service evaluation, and reporting.
• Maintaining contact with the patient, contacting them within 48 hours of engagement and at least once a week prior to the 28‑day quit date up to 6 weeks.
• Working to monthly targets to ensure that KPIs are met and adapt and target delivery in line with projected outcomes for long term success.
• Reduce smoking prevalence and smoking‑related health inequalities by providing evidence‑based smoking cessation support to adult smokers attending Emergency Departments (EDs) in Norfolk.
• Reduce future Emergency Department attendances and hospital admissions linked to smoking‑related conditions.
• Increase the number of quit attempts and successful smoking cessation outcomes.
• Contribute to improved population health outcomes and reduced burden on the NHS through early intervention.
• Support the Government’s ambition for Smokefree communities by 2030.
• Reduce inequalities in smoking prevalence and tobacco‑related harm among disadvantaged populations.
• Embed the smoking cessation offer as part of a whole‑system approach in collaboration with acute, community, and public health partners.
• Manage a caseload of participants identified as part of the Emergency Department Stop Smoking Service independently.
• Using techniques such as motivational interviewing and Making Every Contact Count (MECC) to support sustained behaviour change.
• Ensuring inclusive engagement with individuals and communities experiencing the highest burden of smoking‑related harm.
• Working collaboratively with acute trusts, local authority public health teams, and community partners to develop and strengthen local cessation pathways.
• Where vaping is not deemed appropriate for the patient, establishing alternative support in the community.
• Patients that require alternative pharmacotherapy or more intensive support will be referred to the appropriate service.
• Recording the details of those using the service by completing the documentation supporting the project in accordance with agreed SOPs.
• Inputting patient data onto…