Healthy Lifestyle Adviser Emergency Department Lifestyle Pilot

The Emergency Department (ED) Lifestyle Pilot is a 12-month prevention and health inequalities initiative delivered within Emergency Department waiting areas across Kent. The service aims to use waiting time as an opportunity to engage patients and accompanying family members in meaningful conversations about their health, wellbeing and lifestyle.

The pilot will provide a visible, accessible and non-judgemental health promotion service that supports individuals to identify lifestyle risks, improve wellbeing and access appropriate support services. The service is based on the principles of Making Every Contact Count (MECC), behaviour change, trauma-informed practice and reducing health inequalities.

Lifestyle Advisers will work alongside ED teams to provide brief interventions relating to smoking, alcohol, healthy weight, physical activity, diet, emotional wellbeing, loneliness and wider social support needs. Advisers will agree simple action plans with individuals and make referrals into lifestyle, community and wellbeing services where appropriate.

The pilot aims to engage approximately 7,000 individuals during the first 12 months while testing the feasibility and effectiveness of delivering preventative public health interventions within Emergency Department settings., The successful candidate will engage with patients, relatives and carers in Emergency Department waiting areas, delivering brief interventions and lifestyle advice using behaviour change and motivational interviewing techniques. They will complete lifestyle assessments and relevant health checks, support individuals to set goals and develop action plans, and refer or signpost them to appropriate local services, including smoking cessation, weight management and healthy lifestyle programmes. The role will also involve building effective relationships with Emergency Department staff and wider stakeholders, maintaining accurate records, supporting data collection and service evaluation, and contributing to the development of the pilot. The postholder will work in line with safeguarding, clinical governance, confidentiality and GDPR requirements, while participating in supervision, training and ongoing professional development.

ABL Health Ltd is a dynamic, fast-growing community health organisation with an ambitious vision to create healthier lives and stronger communities. As an experienced, CQC-registered provider of community health and wellbeing services, we are proud to deliver evidence-based, innovative and person-centred care that makes a real and lasting difference.

We work in partnership with individuals, communities and system partners to design and deliver services that are locally rooted, strengths-based and responsive to need. Everything we do is driven by a commitment to reducing health inequalities, improving outcomes and ensuring people have access to the right support at the right time.