Behaviour Change E-Learning Programme for Addiction Support Services
We co-designed a four-module online course for Middlesbrough Council that became one of the most well-received trainings in the service, improving skills and confidence across teams
The Challenge
How do you create behaviour change training that even staff who dislike e-learning find engaging?
Middlesbrough Council wanted to strengthen the behavioural science capability of staff working in drug and alcohol support services. The service needed a practical, accessible training programme that felt relevant to everyday practice and built confidence across teams.
Our Approach
We worked closely with frontline practitioners and supervisors (some with lived experience) to understand real barriers and skill gaps. Using behavioural insights and co-design, we developed relatable scenarios, clear conversational examples and structured learning pathways. Each module was tested with staff and refined to ensure clarity, realism and accessibility for a diverse workforce.
Solution Delivered
We developed a four-module Introduction to Behaviour Change e-learning course featuring co-designed scenarios grounded in real client experiences, practical demonstrations of behaviour change techniques, and reflection prompts to support application to practitioners’ caseloads. The content was written in plain, accessible language to suit different learning styles, and the overall programme was designed to be concise, relevant and immediately usable in day-to-day sessions.
Impact
The training became one of the most positively received programmes in the service. Staff reported increased confidence, more consistent conversations and stronger understanding of behaviour change principles. Engagement was significantly higher than expected, including among practitioners typically reluctant to complete online training.
A senior manager shared a standout comment:
“One of our most experienced practitioners — who never enjoys e-learning — said this was one of the best trainings he has ever done.”
Feedback Received
“Scenarios are brilliant and all relevant. Happy to see something tailored to what we see in practice.”
“Clear, accessible and directly useful — the best e-learning we’ve had.”
“Staff feel much more confident using behaviour change techniques in sessions.”