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Job summary

Main area
Clinical Coding
Grade
Band 6 / Band 5
Contract
12 months (Fixed Term Maternity Cover)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
  • Home or remote working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
418-CORP9769-EH
Employer
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Luton Hospital
Town
Luton
Salary
£31,049 - £37,796 Band 6 (£38,682 - £46,580)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
04/08/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Lead Clinical Coder / Senior Clinical Coder

Band 6 / Band 5

Job overview

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking to recruit  Senior experienced/qualified Coders to join our Clinical Coding Team (Bedford site). To meet requirements of a Band 6 you will need to be flexible in your approach, a good communicator, able to work as part of a team to tight deadlines and you will hold the nationally recognised ACC (Accreditation of Clinical Coders) qualification in clinical coding. 

Candidates who currently do not meet the requirements of a band 6 may be considered for a developmental role at band 5 however you must have a track record of high quality coding, you will have a good knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology.

Able to demonstrate competence in the use of ICD10 and OPCS 4.9 classifications, complete coding rules and application of National Clinical Coding Standards across acute specialities is a prerequisite, excellent communication skills and progressing to a band 6 once ACC have been acquired.

The Clinical Coding Department is a pivotal Service within the Trust’s IM&T Division. These are corporate functions responsible for all Trust management information, reporting both externally and internally, providing vital management information to clinicians and managers which inform and determine the basis for decision-making across the Trust.

The Trust uses ‘Electronic Documentation Record Management service’ (E.D.R.M.S), Medicode360, this enables remote working.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide an effective, accurate, timely, and consistent clinical coding service to the Trust and ensure all coding quality targets are achieved, assisting in audits as appropriate.

In order to expand individual knowledge and provide a more robust service to the Trust, you will be expected to code variety of speciality to increase your in-depth knowledge.

You will be expected to promote continuous improvement in data quality by keeping abreast of development and innovations in the medical, surgical, and coding disciplines. This role forms a key member of the data quality team which aims to provide credible, accurate, complete, and timely data for the Trust.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton.  Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Senior and Lead Clinical Coders are required to create and maintain good communication links with Consultants and their clinical teams to ensure quality and depth of clinical coding is achieved. In order to achieve this they are required to communicate complex coding rules to various medical, clinical and administrative staff at all levels.  Communication can be via telephone, in person, written, or by email.

To answer Clinical Commissioning Group challenges in code assignment in a timely manner.

To act as mentor to less experienced coding staff in understanding clinical coding rules. PbR and HRG (Healthcare Resource Groups), therefore having a sound knowledge of these processes themselves.

To be proficient in the Trust’s many IT systems, including iPM, Medicode360, ICE, Clinical Correspondence, MediViewer (for ERDMS) and the Clinical Income Dashboard system.

To access the Trust histopathological database (ICE) to extract the relevant information when assigning appropriate clinical codes.

 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Nationally Accredited Clinical Coder Qualification (ACC)
  • Degree or substantial experience as a Clinical Coder with proven successful outcomes

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Substantial Clinical Coding expertise across all specialties and levels of complexity
Desirable criteria
  • Audit experience
  • Experience working as a Clinical Coder in an NHS Trust

Essential

Essential criteria
  • Ability to prioritise own and others workload, working under pressure to meet deadlines , Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office software such as Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Extensive knowledge of ICD-10 and OPCS-4 classifications including the correct application of complex rules and conventions • Comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and
  • Working knowledge of Data Quality and Information Governance requirements
  • Conversant with Data Administration Systems

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Care quality commission - GoodDisability confident employerNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024Employer with Heart

Applicant requirements

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Shamirah Acholo
Job title
Clinical Coding Service Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07929839870
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