Behaviour Change E-Learning Programme for Addiction Support Services
How do you create behaviour change training that even staff who “hate e-learning” find engaging?
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.
Services Provided
Training & Capacity Building
Behaviour Change Intervention Design
Co-Design & Resource Development
Digital Learning Development
The Challenge
Middlesbrough Council identified a need to strengthen the behavioural science capability of staff working in drug and alcohol support services. Although practitioners had extensive experience supporting service users, previous training materials were inconsistent, theory-heavy, or not directly applicable to real conversations in addiction settings.
Traditional e-learning formats had also received poor engagement. Staff frequently reported that online training was inaccessible, overly generic, or disconnected from the realities of their work.
The organisation needed a relevant, engaging, and behaviourally coherent training programme that would equip staff with practical skills, increase confidence, and support consistent intervention delivery across teams.
Our Approach
We used an evidence-based and co-designed approach, working closely with frontline practitioners, supervisors, and former service users. Key elements of our approach included:
Behavioural Needs Assessment: Understanding real challenges faced by practitioners, including barriers to applying behaviour change strategies in addiction services.
Mapping Skills Requirements: Identifying capability, opportunity and motivation needs to ensure the content is aligned with everyday practice.
Practical Behaviour Change Techniques Integration: Translating relevant Behaviour Change Techniques into simple, repeatable actions and examples useful in client conversations.
Co-Design Workshops: Working with practitioners and lived-experience representatives to shape scenarios, refine tasks, and ensure realism.
Iterative Testing: Trialling modules with selected staff, gathering feedback, and refining the content to maximise clarity and engagement.
Accessible Learning Design: Using plain language, relatable examples, clear pacing, and scenario-rich content tailored specifically to addiction settings.
This ensured the training was not only theoretically robust but also practical, inclusive and immediately usable.
Solution Delivered
We developed a structured four-module Introduction to Behaviour Change e-learning course that included:
Four co-designed modules covering behavioural science foundations and applied skills
Interactive scenarios based on real client situations
Practical exercises demonstrating how to use behavioural techniques in conversations
Reflection prompts to support application to real caseloads
Inclusive and accessible written content suitable for staff with different learning preferences
Realistic examples tailored specifically to addiction recovery and harm reduction
Facilitator guidance for supervisors supporting staff completing the training
Each module was designed to be engaging, easy to follow, and directly relevant to service users’ day-to-day needs.
Impact
The course received exceptionally positive feedback across the service:
Staff described the training as “clear, relevant and practical.”
Practitioners reported increased confidence in using behaviour change principles.
Supervisors noted improvements in the consistency of client conversations.
Engagement was significantly higher than previous training formats, particularly among staff who typically dislike e-learning.
Scenarios were praised for being “realistic and tailored to what we see in practice.”
A senior manager shared a standout piece of feedback:
“One of our most experienced practitioners, who never enjoys e-learning, said this was one of the best trainings he has ever done. He is a tough guy to please.”
The training now forms part of the mandatory development pathway for addiction support staff.
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.”