Designing a Behaviour Change Intervention Toolkit in Addiction Services
How can addiction support services deliver more consistent, confident behaviour change conversations?
We helped Middlesbrough Council redesign their entire behaviour change toolkit, improving clarity, structure and practitioner confidence through co-designed, accessible resources.
Services Provided
Behaviour Change Intervention Design
Resource Development
Programme Structure
Practitioner Tools
Service Delivery Optimisation
Co-Design
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 reported that:
worksheets were difficult to use consistently
the link between the COM-B self-assessment and the resources was unclear
some materials felt outdated or too text-heavy
different staff were using tools differently, leading to variation in delivery
The Council needed a behaviourally structured, accessible, and easy-to-use toolkit that could support staff across diverse roles and experience levels..
Our Approach
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We collaborated with practitioners, supervisors and (where appropriate) former service users to understand real conversations, barriers and decision-making needs.
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We refined the COM-B self-assessment tool, simplifying language and strengthening its ability to identify capability, opportunity and motivation barriers.
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We linked each item on the COM-B form to appropriate worksheets, making the pathway from assessment → resource selection → action consistent and intuitive.
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We redesigned or updated worksheets using:
clear, plain language
simple, consistent formatting
inclusive, non-judgemental phrasing
practical exercises based on realistic scenarios
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Where multiple worksheets existed for the same barrier, we created a decision matrix to help staff choose the best tool based on client presentation.
Solution Delivered
We created a fully structured intervention toolkit including:
A refined, accessible COM-B self-assessment form
A complete set of new and updated worksheets, aligned to behavioural drivers
A decision matrix to help staff determine which worksheet to use
Clear, easy-to-read content written for varied literacy levels
A 12-week programme structure to guide clients through change consistently
All resources were formatted to match the service’s internal style and operational needs.
Impact
The redesigned toolkit led to substantial improvements in:
Consistency across staff
Confidence when selecting and using resources
Clarity of session structure
Quality of conversations with service users
Engagement with the materials
Practitioners shared that the updated resources were:
“much easier to follow”
“clear and relevant to what we see every day”
“a massive improvement in helping us know which worksheet to use”
Supervisors noted that sessions became more structured and aligned with behavioural principles.
Feedback Received
“Scenarios and examples are realistic and finally reflect what we deal with in practice.”
“The new resources are so much clearer and easier to talk through with clients.”
“The COM-B form now makes sense and links directly to what we do in sessions.”