Behaviour Change Toolkit for Addiction Services
We redesigned Middlesbrough Council’s behaviour change toolkit, creating a clear, structured and accessible set of resources that improved practitioner confidence and made behaviour change conversations more consistent across the service.
The Challenge
Middlesbrough Council wanted to strengthen the quality, consistency and behavioural coherence of the tools used by their drug and alcohol support teams. Their existing resources had been developed over many years, resulting in materials that varied in structure, tone and usability. Staff described worksheets as difficult to use consistently, noted that some materials felt outdated or not clearly rooted in evidence, and reported that different practitioners were using tools in different ways. The service needed a behaviourally structured, accessible and easy-to-use toolkit that could support staff across diverse roles and experience levels.
Our Approach
We gathered feedback from staff and supervisors to understand real conversations and barriers, then simplified the COM-B assessment and updated and developed materials using behavioural science, plain language, and intuitive pathways from assessment to action.
Solution Delivered
We created a fully structured intervention toolkit comprising a refined and accessible COM-B self-assessment form, a complete set of new and updated worksheets aligned to behavioural drivers, a decision matrix to guide staff in selecting the most appropriate resources, and a 12-week group programme structure to support consistent client journeys.
Impact
The toolkit improved consistency, clarity and confidence across teams. Staff shared that the materials were easier to follow, clearer and more relevant to daily practice, and a significant improvement in helping practitioners know which worksheet to use at each stage.
Feedback Received
“The structure makes delivery so much easier, I always know exactly what I’m doing.”
“Clients treat the books like personal journals. The visuals, doodle pages and affirmations really connect with them.”
“These resources create real ‘lightbulb’ moments — people finally understand themselves and their behaviour.”
“The materials make difficult topics easier to explore. Clients keep using them between sessions and at home.”