North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Assistant Technical Officer - Dispensary

The closing date is 16 April 2026

Job summary

Fixed Term position working 37.5 hours per week Mon-Wed 08:30-16:30 with additional weekend and bank holiday rota.

The Pharmacy Department at the Cumberland Infirmary, Whitehaven has an opportunity for an enthusiastic and highly motivated person to join our team as an Assistant Technical officer - Dispensary.

The postholder will work as part of a pharmacy team of Assistant Technical Officers, Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacists to deliver the pharmacy service to North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust.

Main duties of the job

The role is varied and will include:

  • Supplying stock medicines to wards and departments across the trust;
  • Dispensing in-patient, out-patient, and discharge medication.
  • Liaising with multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Providing a delivery service of medicines to wards on site;
  • Participating in stock control maintenance;
  • Assisting in the maintenance of stock levels of medicines on wards and departments by participating in the pharmacy ward topping up service;

About us

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of 'safe, high quality care every time':

Being a clinically led organisation

Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust

A positive patient experience every time

A great place to work

Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Details

Date posted

01 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£25,760 to £27,476 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

262-A-26-7869248

Job locations

West Cumberland Hospital

Whitehaven

CA28 8JG


Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP:

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see ourPolicy for eligible vacancies.

AHP - Return to Practice Job Advert information(Please ask recruiting manager and delete if not appropriate) This role may be suitable for individuals Returning to Practice. Please speak to the recruiting manager for more information.

******** To include Band specific / Care certificate wordings here********

Disclosure and Barring Service:

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as followsif applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £6.50 = £28.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £6.50 = £56.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Flexible working Scheme

NHS Discounts*

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*

Excellent opportunities for development*

Competitive NHS Pension scheme

Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

*Subject to eligibility

Important Information:

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

CERTIFICATE OF SPONSORSHIP:

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit theUK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see ourPolicy for eligible vacancies.

AHP - Return to Practice Job Advert information(Please ask recruiting manager and delete if not appropriate) This role may be suitable for individuals Returning to Practice. Please speak to the recruiting manager for more information.

******** To include Band specific / Care certificate wordings here********

Disclosure and Barring Service:

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as followsif applicable to the post:

Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £6.50 = £28.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £6.50 = £56.00 Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

NCIC can offer successful future employees the following benefits:

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

Flexible working Scheme

NHS Discounts*

Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*

Excellent opportunities for development*

Competitive NHS Pension scheme

Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work-related problems

*Subject to eligibility

Important Information:

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ Level 2 Certificate in Pharmacy Service SkillsNVQ 3 units in or equivalent
  • NVQ Optional Units - must include optional NVQ Level 2 Unit 206 - Assemble Prescribed Items
  • GCSE English language and mathematics or equivalent.

Desirable

  • Essential IT skills (EITS) or equivalent.
  • NVQ 3 units in receipt and assembly of prescriptions

Skills & Aptitudes

Essential

  • Dispensing skills.
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Good customer service skills.
  • Adaptable to different workplace situations.
  • Ability to work methodically and with attention to detail.
  • Ability to work accurately to SOPs.
  • Ability to work as part of a team or as an individual
  • Effective time management.
  • Ability to multitask and prioritise work to achieve deadlines.
  • Enthusiastic.
  • Motivated.
  • Keyboard skills.

Desirable

  • Problem solving skills.
  • Training skills.

Other requirements

Essential

  • Flexible to cover the needs of the service, working across Trusts as required.
  • Able to undertake CPD for all aspects relevant to the role, changes in pharmacy practice and self development according to trust policy.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Recent work in a hospital or community pharmacy.
  • Prescription interpretation
  • Dispensary duties
  • Stock control
  • Current pharmacy operational procedures and practices
  • Dispensing protocols
  • HASAWA and COSHH in relation to the dispensary environment
  • Relevant pharmacy law and ethics
  • Pharmacy computer system - dispensing.

Desirable

  • Dispensing controlled drugs
  • Microsoft Word
  • E-mail software
  • Internet use
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NVQ Level 2 Certificate in Pharmacy Service SkillsNVQ 3 units in or equivalent
  • NVQ Optional Units - must include optional NVQ Level 2 Unit 206 - Assemble Prescribed Items
  • GCSE English language and mathematics or equivalent.

Desirable

  • Essential IT skills (EITS) or equivalent.
  • NVQ 3 units in receipt and assembly of prescriptions

Skills & Aptitudes

Essential

  • Dispensing skills.
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Good customer service skills.
  • Adaptable to different workplace situations.
  • Ability to work methodically and with attention to detail.
  • Ability to work accurately to SOPs.
  • Ability to work as part of a team or as an individual
  • Effective time management.
  • Ability to multitask and prioritise work to achieve deadlines.
  • Enthusiastic.
  • Motivated.
  • Keyboard skills.

Desirable

  • Problem solving skills.
  • Training skills.

Other requirements

Essential

  • Flexible to cover the needs of the service, working across Trusts as required.
  • Able to undertake CPD for all aspects relevant to the role, changes in pharmacy practice and self development according to trust policy.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Recent work in a hospital or community pharmacy.
  • Prescription interpretation
  • Dispensary duties
  • Stock control
  • Current pharmacy operational procedures and practices
  • Dispensing protocols
  • HASAWA and COSHH in relation to the dispensary environment
  • Relevant pharmacy law and ethics
  • Pharmacy computer system - dispensing.

Desirable

  • Dispensing controlled drugs
  • Microsoft Word
  • E-mail software
  • Internet use

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Cumberland Hospital

Whitehaven

CA28 8JG


Employer's website

https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

West Cumberland Hospital

Whitehaven

CA28 8JG


Employer's website

https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Site Operations Lead - WCH

Natalie Peat

Natalie.Peat@ncic.nhs.uk

01946523585

Details

Date posted

01 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£25,760 to £27,476 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

262-A-26-7869248

Job locations

West Cumberland Hospital

Whitehaven

CA28 8JG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)