Smoking cessation and looked after and accommodated children?

Author:
Brenda Friel

Presenters:
Brenda Friel
Health Improvement Senior (Tobacco Control), NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, UK

Lauren Parsons
Smoking Cessation Advisor for Looked After and Accommodated Children (LACC) and Young People,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, UK

Abstract
In 2007 a smoking cessation project for looked after and accommodated children (LAAC) and young people was piloted in Glasgow through partnership funding from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow City Council this consisted of the following:

• A review of existing smoking policy and a base line survey was conducted amongst residential care staff and foster carers to establish the prevalence and attitudes toward smoking within
  care placements. Findings highlighted the need for and development of a new policy within all care placements.
• A smoking cessation service was established providing three levels of support:

1. Brief advice and health promotion
   
2. One to one smoking cessation support
3. Management of nicotine withdrawal when access to smoking is unavailable

• Training programme for residential care staff and foster carers to raise awareness around issues of tobacco use and secondhand smoke. The training aims to promote the importance of positive role models and the well being of young people in their care.

Funding has been secured to expand the LAAC smoking cessation project to other areas within Greater Glasgow and Clyde. The presentation will include processes in developing, delivering and outcomes of this service.

Source of funding: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Declaration of interest: none

About the presenters
Brenda has worked within the area of tobacco for seven years. She has recently taken on a wider tobacco control remit in which she supports the development of tobacco activities across GGC. Brenda is currently taking forward a programme that aims to address smoking in the home by increasing awareness of the dangers of secondhand smoke (SHS) and support the delivery and evaluation of SHS brief intervention training for key health professionals so they can effectively raise the issue of SHS in the home and support any behaviour change.

Since qualifying as a registered general nurse in 2006, Lauren Parsons has worked within acute medical settings throughout Glasgow. In June 2009 she joined the LAAC health team and currently supports the LAAC Smoking Cessation Service within Glasgow City and is in the process of expanding and developing the service to other areas of Greater Glasgow and Clyde.