Trainee Assistant Technical Officer- Dispensary

Job summary
West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, CA28 8JG

12 months fixed term - 37.5 hours per week (Mon - Fri 08:30-16:30) including additional lates, weekend and bank holiday rota.

The Pharmacy Department at West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven has an opportunity for two enthusiastic and highly motivated people to join our team as a Trainee Assistant Technical Officer - Dispensary

The post holder 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 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: 26 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 2
Salary: £25,272 a year Per Annum
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 262-A-26-8345416

Job description
Job responsibilities
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.

Benefits
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

Person Specification
Essential qualifications

• NVQ Level 2 Certificate in Pharmacy Service Skills or equivalent or willing to work towards.
• NVQ Optional Units - must include optional NVQ Level 2 Unit 206 - Assemble Prescribed Items or willing to work towards
• GCSE English language and mathematics or equivalent.

Desirable qualifications

• NVQ3 units in receipt and assembly of prescriptions
• Essential IT skills (EITS) or equivalent.

Essential skills and aptitudes

• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good customer service skills.
• Keyboard 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

Desirable skills and aptitudes

• Problem solving skills.
• Training skills.

Essential other requirements

• Able to work out of hours at weekends on a Rota system in the dispensary and for stocktaking when required.
• 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.

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. 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.

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.

Employer contact
Site Operations Lead - WCH, Natalie Peat, Natalie.Peat@ncic.nhs.uk, 01946523585

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. 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. This role may be suitable for individuals Returning to Practice. Please speak to the recruiting manager for more information.