Prevention Practitioner

Prevention Practitioner

Closing date: 22 January 2026

The Prevention Practitioner (Tobacco & Alcohol) will work within the Emergency Department to identify patients who smoke or drink alcohol at risky levels and provide timely, evidence-based brief interventions and onward referral to specialist services. The role focuses on maximising "teachable moments" during ED attendance, supporting early intervention, improving patient outcomes, and reducing avoidable future demand on services. The post supports UHNM's prevention agenda, including Making Every Contact Count (MECC), by embedding proactive health improvement into routine emergency care without impacting patient flow.

• Proactively screen Emergency Department patients for smoking and alcohol use.
• Deliver evidence-based brief interventions and brief advice.
• Initiate nicotine replacement therapy where appropriate.
• Refer patients to hospital and community stop smoking and alcohol support services.
• Collaborate with ED clinicians to embed prevention into routine care.
• Accurately record activity on Trust systems and contribute to service monitoring and evaluation.

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke‑on‑Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we serve around three million people and are highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.

All employees have the opportunity to fulfil their true potential through a wide range of development packages.

We foster a culture of inclusion, equal opportunities and diversity, ensuring all staff feel valued and respected.

The postholder will identify patients who smoke or drink alcohol at harmful levels, deliver very brief advice and brief interventions using behaviour change techniques, initiate nicotine replacement therapy in line with Trust protocols, and make timely referrals to specialist hospital and community services. The role involves close collaboration with ED clinicians to integrate prevention into routine care, accurate documentation of all activity on Trust systems, and contribution to service monitoring, audit and evaluation in line with Trust and national prevention priorities.

• Proficient use of Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work autonomously.
• Experience in healthcare.
• GCSE at level
  
  C.
• Experience and training in challenging environments.
• Experience of ED work.

• Professional behaviour.
• Passionate about prevention and public health.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check for any previous criminal convictions.

University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust