Enhancing & improving stop smoking interventions: Uplift of training for practitioners in London
| Author(s)
Jo Locker
| | Presenter(s) |
Jo Locker Tobacco Control Delivery Manager, National Centre for Smoking Cessation & Training (NCSCT) | Abstract Working with the London Health Improvement Board to support their smokefree ambition of reducing smoking prevalence in London by 20% over six years, the NCSCT instigated a programme of work to increase the engagement of stop smoking practitioners with available on-line training resources and offer a series of face-to-face training opportunities.
By utilising a range of communication channels and support options, the number of stop smoking practitioners achieving Full NCSCT Certification has been substantially increased since work began in June 2012. At this time 400 individuals had passed the NCSCT Stage 1 (Knowledge) assessment and only 74 completed Stage 2 (Practice), therefore achieving Full NCSCT Certification.
Following this programme of work, 956 have now successfully undertaken the Stage 1 assessment – an increase of 121% (compared to 88% nationally) and 464 obtained Full NCSCT Certification – an increase of 527%. In addition, five 2-day face-to-face training courses in behavioural support were held in locations across London, providing 150 stop smoking practitioners with the chance to further enhance their skills in this area.
Further analysis will be conducted on quit rates in services across London when annual routine monitoring data becomes available.
| Presenter biography Jo Locker is the Tobacco Control Delivery Manager with the NCSCT. Over the past year this has involved working closely with the London Health Improvement Board to support the delivery of their smokefree ambition, which has focussed on service improvement, illegal tobacco, secondary care referrals and the delivery of on-line and face-to-face training for stop smoking practitioners.
Jo has worked in tobacco control for more than 10 years, which has included as Regional Tobacco Policy Manager in the South East, working within the Department of Health tobacco policy team and co-ordinating specialist stop smoking services in east London.
| Source of funding: London Health Improvement Board
| Declaration of interest: None
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