Are you passionate about helping others make life-changing improvements to their health and wellbeing? We’re looking for aTobacco Dependence Advisorto join our small, supportive team of three at Prospect Park Hospital in Reading.
Smoking remains the largest cause of preventable illness and early death in the UK, and people experiencing mental health challenges are among the most at risk. Since becoming a smoke-free trust in 2015, Berkshire Healthcare has been committed to supporting patients on their journey to better health — and you can be part of that.
You’ll play a vital role in helping patients to quit or reduce smoking during their hospital stay and continue their smokefree journey after discharge. You’ll work closely with patients, clinicians, and wider health teams to deliver personalised support, education, and follow-up care.
What You’ll Be Doing:
· Supporting inpatients through evidence-based interventions to stop or reduce smoking.
· Providing motivation, encouragement, and practical advice tailored to individual needs.
· Working collaboratively with healthcare professionals across the hospital.
· Contributing to reducing health inequalities and improving long-term patient outcomes.
This role offers a Monday–Friday working pattern (8am–4pm or 9am–5pm).
Applications for this role will be reviewed in the order they are received. The advert may close early if the right applicant is found.
• Act as the HospitalTobacco DependenceAdvisor promoting the Trusts smoke free policy
• This post holder will provide a high-quality tobacco dependence treatment service, ensuring all patients referred arescreened andmonitored usingcarbon monoxidetesting.
• The Tobacco Dependence Advisor will work autonomously within the Mental Health Inpatient service.
• To coordinate the referrals received and carry out comprehensive assessments and devise individual treatment plans to either helppatients stop, or to reduce harm from tobacco smoking
• To provide risk assessment and support the MDT to mitigate the risk for patients who are on the caseload and ensure good communications of any risks with ward clinical teams
• Tobe responsible forthe liaison between inpatients services and specialist community Smoking cessation services to ensure seamless support for patients on discharge.
• To take the lead in post discharge liaison with CMHTs and the physical health team ifappropriate.
• Follow up at 1 month toascertainsmoking status post discharge from hospital, providing face to face review if requested by the patient.
• The post holder will helpfacilitatetraining on tobacco harm reduction and smoking cessation to staff and support any staff quit attempts ensuring they receiveappropriate support.
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites
If you share our values and would like to come and work for us, please submit your application as soon as possible as we'll occasionally close roles early that have a high number of applications.
The “must haves” for this role:
1. Health Related QualificationorNVQ/QCF Level 5 in Health and Social Care/or Foundation degreeor evidenced relevant equivalent experience.
1. Significant experienceworking with patients who haveacutemental healthneeds
1. Previousexperience of / or a specialist interest in reducing health inequalities and health related harm from Tobacco Dependence.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet thecriteria in theperson specificationand write about thispoint-by-pointin your supporting statementfor the best chance of being shortlisted. For further application tips – see thehelp with your applicationdocument attachedonce you click apply.
We’recommitted to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
Please note: We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
While we are a licensed sponsor, we must follow the criteria set by UK Visas and Immigration for sponsoring overseas nationals under the Skilled Worker route. After reviewing this position, we believe it does not meet the requirements for sponsorship.
For more information on Skilled Worker visa eligibility, please visit the GOV.UK website:
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Pleasedon’thesitate to call:Helen Phillipson 0792567278or email:helen.phillips@berkshire.nhs.uk who’llbe delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so pleasesubmityour application as soon as possible.
This advert closes on Sunday 23 Nov 2025
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
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About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .