Q: What is included in the NCSCT face-to-face training course in behavioural support and why?
A: The NCSCT face-to-face training courses in behavioural support are based on the evidence-based competences that we know make a significant difference to smoker's chances of success: building rapport, the 'not a puff' rule, eliciting a commitment from clients, using carbon monoxide monitoring as a motivational tool and pharmacotherapy.
Q: Why are only a limited amount of face-to-face training courses being delivered?
A: The provision of a limited number of face-to-face skills training courses was part of the contract with the Department of Health and is designed to give an immediate and significant boost to the quality of behavioural support to services with relatively low CO-validated quit rates and who face challenges in terms of deprivation and smoking prevalence.
Q: How are the PCTs selected for the face-to-face training courses?
A: The two-day face-to-face is being offered to selected PCTs by agreement with the Department of Health. We ranked Local Stop Smoking Services according to a formula which includes the 2008/9 CO-validated quit rates, 2009/10 CO-validated quit rates, a measure of deprivation and a measure of smoking prevalence. The cumulative ranking has been used as a basis for approaching local stop smoking services to offer the face-to-face skills-based training courses. The tariff providers in the West Midlands have also been prioritized, as have other stop smoking services participating in Department of Health pilots.
Q: Who is eligible to undertake the face-to-face training course?
A: The face-to-face training courses are now being offered to groups of three PCTs, with up to 10 places available per PCT. Selection of the most appropriate staff to put forward for the skills training courses is be a matter for negotiation between the commissioner and the service leads, but practitioners who carry out a significant amount of treatment delivery for the local NHS Stop Smoking Service and/or staff members who are responsible for monitoring the treatment delivery of others would probably benefit the most.
Q: Who will be delivering the face to face training courses in behavioural support?
A: Training will be delivered by the NCSCT’s training partners, all of whom have a wealth of experience in the subject area. In the longer term, the NCSCT plans to accredit a wider pool of trainers, so as to ensure good national coverage and build training capacity across the service network. The following link provides more information about the NCSCT Training and Assessment Programme: