ACC Senior Clinical Coder

NHS; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Home or remote working

Compressed hours

Job summary

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an Accredited Clinical Coder to translate complex clinical records into nationally recognised ICD-10 and OPCS-4 codes. You will work with clinicians to ensure accurate coding for patient journeys, funding, and reporting.

The role emphasizes high standards of data quality, continuous learning, and expertise in clinical terminology and hospital systems. Flexible working options, including home or remote working, are available.

Qualifications

• Accredited Clinical Coder (ACC) with NCCQ accreditation.
• Knowledge of ICD-10 and OPCS-4 classifications and national coding standards.
• Degree or equivalent training and experience; Anatomy & Physiology knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Review and analyse patient records to identify diagnoses, co-morbidities and procedures.
• Assign ICD-10 and OPCS-4 codes accurately for admitted patient care.
• Code complex specialties and deceased patient records in collaboration with clinicians.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Education

NCCQ Accreditation (ACC)

Degree or equivalent training and experience

Anatomy & Physiology or Human biology qualification

NHS Digital approved clinical coding workshops or specialty courses

Tools

Patient administration system

Job description

ACC Senior Clinical Coder

The closing date is 16 September 2026

Are you passionate about healthcare, data quality and making a real impact behind the scenes? We are looking for an Accredited Clinical Coder, to play a vital role in transforming complex patient information into accurate, nationally recognised clinical data that supports patient care, NHS funding, service planning and performance reporting.

In this rewarding and intellectually stimulating role, you will review and interpret detailed clinical records from patient case notes and electronic health systems, applying your expert knowledge of ICD-10 and OPCS-4 classifications to accurately assign diagnostic and procedure codes in line with national coding standards. Every record presents a unique challenge, requiring analytical thinking, attention to detail and the ability to interpret complex clinical information to make informed coding decisions.

Working closely with clinicians and multidisciplinary teams, you will ensure that each patient's hospital journey is accurately and comprehensively represented. You will use your specialist expertise to explain coding decisions, provide advice on complex coding scenarios and contribute to maintaining the highest standards of data quality across the Trust.

The successful candidate will be an Accredited Clinical Coder (ACC), having achieved the National Clinical Coding Qualification, and will be committed to maintaining professional standards within this highly respected and valued profession.

Main duties of the job

Clinical Coders are essential to the NHS, providing the data that underpins healthcare planning, clinical research, national reporting and the allocation of funding. This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the delivery and future development of healthcare services while continually developing your specialist knowledge and expertise.

To accurately extract, analyse and translate clinical information from clinical records into nationally recognised diagnosis (ICD 10) and procedure (OPCS 4) codes for admitted patient care. Input the relevant information onto the Trust's encoder, within agreed Trust deadlines. Undertake the coding of inpatient spells, ensuring these are coded accurately and comprehensively. Use the patient administration system to access radiology and pathology results to update coded information not defined at procedure or discharge. Apply knowledge of clinical terminology, anatomical and physiological terms as necessary.

About us

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

Job responsibilities

• Review and analyse patient records to accurately identify and abstract diagnoses, co-morbidities, complications and procedures relevant to each inpatient episode.
• Assign accurate ICD-10 and OPCS-4 codes in accordance with national clinical coding standards, conventions and guidelines.
• Code complex clinical specialties and deceased patient records, liaising with clinicians where required to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Maintain high standards of coding quality and productivity, contributing to the delivery of timely and reliable clinical data.
• Provide expert advice on complex coding issues, explaining coding decisions and rationale to clinical, medical and administrative staff.
• Collaborate with clinicians to clarify diagnoses, procedures and emerging clinical practices to support accurate code assignment.
• Share specialist knowledge and provide support, guidance and technical advice to colleagues within the Clinical Coding team.
• Plan and manage a personal workload effectively, working independently to meet agreed objectives and deadlines.
• Contribute to the achievement of monthly coding targets and support team performance during periods of absence or increased workload.
• Use patient administration, pathology, radiology and other clinical systems to gather and validate information required for coding.
• Ensure coded data, patient demographics and admission, transfer and discharge details are recorded accurately and promptly.
• Identify and report data quality issues to ensure patient activity is accurately captured within Trust systems.
• Maintain professional competence through continuous learning, participation in coding reviews and completion of mandatory national refresher training.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of coding quality, data accuracy and compliance with national standards.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NCCQ Accreditation (ACC)
• Clinical Coding Standards Refresher training certification within last 3 years
• Degree or equivalent training and experience
• Anatomy & Physiology or Human biology qualification
• Attendance at NHS Digital approved clinical coding workshops or specialty courses

Experience

• Significant experience of coding inpatient activity across a wide range of specialties within an acute NHS Trust setting
• Demonstrable knowledge, experience and understanding of ICD10 & OPCS 4 classifications and standards
• Experience of using both paper and electronic records to extract clinical information for the purposes of clinical coding

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.

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Full-time,Flexible working,Home or remote working,Compressed hours