Level 1: Very Brief Advice

Level 1 or ‘Very Brief Advice’ is a 1 hour training (with an optional 30 minute Q&A afterwards) that equips healthcare professionals, community workers, or other interested parties, with basic skills and knowledge to offer smokers brief advice on stopping smoking and then signpost to Smokefree City & Hackney.

This training includes information on the health risks of smoking, background information to answer questions smokers may ask, information on smoking in City & Hackney and its effect on our various communities. There is also information on the benefits of quitting and, most importantly, how to refer smokers to local services to help them stop.

Offering brief advice to stop smoking is the single most cost-effective and clinically proven preventative intervention anyone can make. (1)

Level 2: Stop Smoking Advisor

Level 2 is applicable for anyone who wants to become a Stop Smoking Advisor. On completion, an Advisor will be qualified to deliver intensive 1-to-1 support to smokers motivated to quit as part of a treatment programme.

The training covers all aspects of providing the stop smoking service in City & Hackney, including information on the health risks of smoking, information on national and local smoking prevalence and trends. It also explains the 12 week quit programme, appropriate medications and how to help clients choose what is best for them to help them quit. In depth information on tobacco and its related health risks, other local smoking behaviours, e.g. Shisha, cannabis, Illegal & counterfeit tobacco. The training also includes guidance on e-cigarettes, and how these could help clients to quit.

The Level 2 Training will provide you with the skills and knowledge to be able to help people to quit smoking and improve their health, whilst providing empathetic, supportive, non-judgemental behaviour change interventions.

To become a Level 2 Stop Smoking Advisor you will need to:

Complete the NCSCT Level 2 online training https://elearning.ncsct.co.uk/practitioner_training-registration
Register yourself on a Smokefree City & Hackney Level 2 online course https://smokefreecityandhackney.org/training and submit your NCSCT certificate
Complete the pre-course reading that is sent to you on booking
Attend the 2-hour Smokefree City & Hackney Level 2 online training seminar

Level 2: Refresher

Level 2 Refresher is an update for staff who have previously received smoking cessation training within the City & Hackney or another borough and need to update their skills. All Level 2 Advisors are required to attend an annual training to keep their skills and knowledge up to date. Refresher training is also an opportunity to problem solve any issues affecting the delivery of stop smoking sessions and to network with Smokefree service colleagues. The online sessions are now delivered in a 2/3 hour session which allows time for discussion of any specific issues.