Job summary
- Main area
- Dispensing Assistant
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 263-SS25-077-LB
- Employer
- Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- St Nicholas Hospital
- Town
- Gosforth
- Salary
- £24,937 - £26,598 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 30/09/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Dispensing Assistant
Band 3
Hello!
We are so delighted you are considering coming to work with us at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW).
We know the power of looking into an organisation, one you might want to work in, or one where you are going to get help, and being able to say, ‘I’ve seen somewhere I can fit in and be myself.’ We’re on a journey to make the Trust an inclusive employer, representative of the community we serve and we want more of our community to consider applying for jobs with us.
Opportunities for you
Spanning east to west coasts from Northumberland to Cumbria and from the Scottish Borders down to Middlesbrough we’ve got exciting new opportunities available at every level and in every area.
We offer flexible working, helping work fit around family and caring responsibilities, or training and development needs and there’s lots on offer in the way of benefits, such as, lease cars, childcare schemes, staff discounts, season tickets for travel and a cycle to work scheme. All this in a vibrant workplace supported by the following staff networks.
- Cultural diversity staff network
- Disabled staff network
- LGBT+ staff network
We also have a number of staff support groups which are open to any staff to attend. These Include:
- Armed Forces and Veterans Staff Association
- Mind, Health and Wellbeing Community
- Menopause toolkit and cafes and staff carer support group
We offer fantastic personal development opportunities through our Collective Leadership Programme and other Organisational Development initiatives. Whatever you are looking for, you will be joining a supportive, friendly team, offering varied and interesting roles, with opportunities for career progression.
Always improving
CNTW is regulated by the national healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our last two inspections have rated us as an outstanding organisation. We’re always seeking to improve as an organisation. Do you want to be part of that?
Please note that it is a requirement of this Trust that all external applicants pay for their own DBS certification if a DBS check is required for the post. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first monthly pay
Job overview
A vacancy has arisen for a Dispensing Assistant (Assistant Technical Officer) within the Pharmacy Department, based at St. Nicholas Hospital. 1x 37.5 hours per week and 1x 35 hours per week.
The successful candidate will ideally have Pharmacy experience, excellent communication and team working skills as well as being self-motivated, enthusiastic and have a flexible approach to their work.
We provide a comprehensive clinical pharmacy service to all our mental health, learning disability and neurological rehabilitation inpatient teams. We also provide services to community mental health teams, crisis teams, and other specialist services throughout the region.
Our Dispensary services team provide dispensing services to inpatients, community patients and day cases, and support to ward based clinical pharmacy teams which includes dispensing for discharge on wards and medicines topping up services.
The pharmacy team works across four main bases, in Cumbria, Northumberland, Newcastle and Sunderland and the postholder may, very occasionally, be required to travel between bases. Our operating hours are Monday to Friday 08.30 to 17.00
Main duties of the job
To be eligible to join us in this exciting role you will already hold, be working towards or be willing to study for an NVQ2 Certificate in Pharmacy Services or equivalent, with appropriate GCSE qualifications in Mathematics and English.
Working for our organisation
We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.
CNTW values and respects the diversity of its employees and aims to recruit a workforce which reflects our diverse communities. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, gender, race or ethnicity, religion or belief (with the exception of Chaplaincy posts), sexual orientation, or other personal circumstances.
The North-East of England offers affordable housing and fantastic quality of life opportunities for anyone looking to relocate. It includes some of Britain’s most beautiful scenery and coastline, national parks and ancient heritage sites. There is also a vibrant cultural scene in the major cities of Newcastle and Sunderland and a number of attractive market towns. Transport links with other UK regions are excellent, with an international airport in Newcastle as well as major train stations in Sunderland and Newcastle (East Coast main line). For further information, please visit the NHS Find Your Place website: www.nhsfindyourplace.co.uk.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please find attached job description for full details.
Advertising date : 16th September 2025
Closing date : 30th September 2025
We welcome your application.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- GCSE Maths and English
- NVQ Level 2 in pharmacy services
- Underpinning knowledge- equivalent to NVQ 3 standard
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
- Ability to plan, organise and deliver service objectives
Skills and Competencies
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication skills
- Good analytical, judgmental and interpersonal skills to ensure timely supply of medicines to wards according to a pre-determined schedule
Applicant requirements
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Sarah Hindhaugh
- Job title
- Specialist Technician - Dispensary Services
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0191 2456606
- Additional information
For more information please contact either:
Sarah Hindhaugh, Specialist Pharmacy Technician – Dispensary Services on 0191 2469563 – email [email protected]
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