Resources for health professionals
As health professionals, we all play a vital role in helping people live smoke-free lives. Whether you're a receptionist, dental team member, GP, or nurse, every interaction is a chance to make a difference.
Each conversation can help raise awareness of the available support and encourage positive steps toward a going ‘Smoke Free’.
Three simple steps can make an impact:
- Know where to signpost: Understand local stop smoking services and how to refer patients for support.
- Build confidence in conversations: Take free, evidence-based training from the NCSCT to learn how to talk about smoking habits in a supportive, non-judgmental way. (Start Training here).
- Promote available services: Use free posters, leaflets, and digital tools to raise awareness and encourage service engagement.
Explore the Resource Hub
Created to provide you with all the tools, guidance, and information you need in one convenient place
Free training
- NCSCT online training - free, evidence-based training from the NCSCT to learn how to talk about smoking habits in a supportive, non-judgmental way. Takes less than 30 minutes to complete!
- Making Every Contact Count (MECC) Training – A Warwickshire County Council e-learning module designed to build confidence in discussing health topics like smoking and signposting to support.
General guidance
- NCSCT briefings and best practice - smoking cessation guidance for specialist and community practitioners.
- ASH: Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) is an independent public health charity set up by the Royal College of Physicians to end the harm caused by tobacco. This site contains plenty of resources including reports, webinars, fact sheets, and briefings.
- National stop smoking guidance - 2023 guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care for local stop smoking services.
- NICE Tobacco guidance - Clinical and quality standards on tobacco from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
- West Midlands statement on vaping: Regional position from Directors of Public Health.
Promotional resources
- Coventry and Warwickshire campaign resources: Download and display a range of free posters, leaflets, banners, and digital assets.
- Patient.info: contains information leaflets for patients on why smoking tobacco is harmful. It also lists the benefits of stopping, and how to get help to stop.
Smoke Free Guide for mental health settings
Free mental health training
- Community mental health Tobacco training (NCSCT) - Two-day course tailored supporting mental health professionals to deliver support for people with severe mental illness.
- ASH training guide – for mental health professionals.
Guidance on smoking & mental health
- Smoking cessation and mental health briefings (NCSCT).
- 7 tips for helping smokers with mental health conditions (ASH).
- Myth busting guide (ASH).
- Guidance on vaping and mental health (ASH).
Mental health promotional resources
- Patient Information poster – For use in mental health settings.
Smoke Free Guide for dentistry
Free Very Brief Advice (VBA) training
- NCSCT VBA Training - Free briefing to supplement wider VBA training to provide guidance on delivering VBA in dental settings.
Guidance on smoking & oral health
Smoke Free Guide for maternity settings
Free training for smoking cessation in pregnancy
- Very brief advice (VBA) on smoking for pregnant women (NCSCT) – Quick online e-learning module, suitable for all.
- Supporting smoking cessation in training (NCSCT) – Two-day virtual course focusing on behaviour techniques for supporting someone to stop smoking throughout pregnancy.
- National Smoke-Free Pregnancy Incentive Scheme (NCSCT) - Online training module (assumes prior completion of VBA module).
Guidance for smoking cessation in pregnancy
- Smoking cessation in pregnancy briefings (NSCT).
- Overview of national guidance and policy (ASH).
- Smoking in Pregnancy Challenge Group – set up by ASH. This page includes a range resources to support health professionals working to reduce rates of smoking during pregnancy.
