Bank Clinical Coders - Band 5

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

The Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Clinical Coder to manage and enhance clinical coding accuracy. In this vital role, you will collaborate with healthcare professionals to translate medical data into coded formats, ensuring adherence to national and organizational standards while handling sensitive information effectively.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable clinical coding experience across all specialities.
• Knowledge of GDPR and relevant regulations.
• Ability to manage sensitive information and complex data.

Responsibilities

• Abstract and analyse clinical information to produce coded data.
• Work with clinicians to ensure accurate coding and compliance.
• Maintain high standards of coding quality in accordance with national standards.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Knowledge of Medical Terminology

Attention to Detail

Education

5 GCSEs including English & Maths

NVQ Level 4 or equivalent

Accredited Clinical Coding Qualification

Tools

Specialised computer coding software

Job description

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is the only acute hospital provider in the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a system of health and care partners working together for our local population.

Within Mid and South Essex there are 149 GP practices, operating from over 200 sites, forming 27 Primary Care Networks and one Ambulance Trust. There are also three main community and mental health service providers who work together through a community collaborative.

We collaborate with other valuable partners, including three Healthwatch organisations, nine voluntary and community sector organisations and three top tier local authorities, with seven district, borough and city councils, as well as our local universities.

Job overview

JOB SUMMARY

The post-holder is responsible for assigning correct clinical codes to Diagnoses and Operative Procedures against nationally agreed standards, in order to produce reliable clinical information for commissioning, reimbursement (based on HRG assignment), audit, research and performance indicator production.
The post-holder will work with clinicians on a regular basis to help validate their coding in order to produce more accurate coding to facilitate the Payment by Results process.

(We are not able to offer sponsorship on any bank vacancies at MSE so all applicants must possess unrestricted right to work in the UK)

Main duties of the job

Analytical and Planning
To abstract and analyse complex clinical information from patient records and translate this into a coded format in line with National Standards.
To code the specified number of episodes on a daily basis.
To be responsible on a day-to-day basis for the abstraction and analysis of complex and sensitive information from health records.

This information often includes exposure to highly disturbing and upsetting details or photographs.

To have a high level of knowledge of Medical Terminology and Anatomy and Physiology.

Working for our organisation

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is now one of the largest Trust in the country, serving a population of 1.2 million people. Our newly formed Trust, comprising acute hospital sites at Broomfield in Chelmsford, Basildon, and Southend, is determined to provide the best health services for its local population. We are a well-led, high-performing, and innovative organisation working in the best interests of the people we serve.

With a workforce of approximately 15,000 staff, we can now do more and go further in delivering health services to our local communities.

Our ambition is to deliver excellent local and specialist services, to improve the health and wellbeing of our patients, and provide a vibrant place for staff to develop, innovate and build careers.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Communication

To attend seminars and training courses in order to receive and interpret clinical coding updates and effectively communicate these to all necessary staff.

Take part in departmental team meetings to discuss and agree local policy and coding convention variations as required, without contravening national standards to ensure consistency of coding across the Trust.

To act as lead contact with designated specialties and communicate complex issues with clinicians on coding queries relating to diagnoses and operative procedures in order to ensure accuracy and consistency of information.

Where applicable, attend clinical and management meetings to discuss complex coding rules and guidelines and answer questions with regard to coding, thus raising awareness of the importance of clinical coding.

2. Analytical and Planning

To abstract and analyse complex clinical information from patient records and translate this into a coded format in line with National Standards.

To code the specified number of episodes on a daily basis.

To be responsible on a day-to-day basis for the abstraction and analysis of complex and sensitive information from health records. This information often includes exposure to highly disturbing and upsetting details or photographs.

To have a high level of knowledge of Medical Terminology and Anatomy and Physiology.

3. Policy and Service Development

To assist in the organisation of the day-to-day running of the office and use initiative to prioritise own workload to ensure that coding is carried out in an accurate, timely and complete manner.

4. Financial and Physical Resources

Be aware of any problems in the office and report to appropriate manager or works department for remedial action.
Be aware of health and safety and incidents procedure.
Monitors stationery supplies as are necessary to complete tasks.

5. Staff Management

Act as mentor and assist in the education of less experienced coders.
To develop, in conjunction with the Clinical Coding Site Manager and Clinical Coding Deputy Site Manager, coding standards, and maintain on-going monitoring and audit procedures to ensure that coding is timely, complete, accurate and of a consistent high quality to meet the needs of the Trust.

6. Information Resources

Using national and international rules/conventions governing the use of the statistical classifications (ICD10 and OPCS4) as laid down by the World Health Organisation and connecting for health and comprehensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology and medical terminology, translate all diagnostic and procedural information relating to a patients care in hospital, including patient co-morbidities into coded data.

The post holder will work as part of a team of experienced trained and trainee staff and the job will involve rotation between duties working on all specialties.

Locate source documents, read and analyse histology and cytology reports. Access information from help sources i.e. internet coding websites, and other online medical information sites.

Manage and resolve enquiries relating to complex clinical information from all parts of the hospital received in the Department.

Ensure patient records are processed in the correct manner and paper records are tracked to appropriate destinations using the computer tracking system.

To ensure computer and paper records are passed for remedial action or processed in the correct manner.

Knowledge of specialised computer coding software, coding procedures and conventions.

Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and Trust policy in areas of Health and Safety, Confidentiality and Data Protection.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• 5 GCSEs including English & Maths or equivalent level of attainment
• Educated to NVQ Level 4 or equivalent
• Accredited Clinical Coding Qualification

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable clinical coding experience across all specialities and levels of complexity to be proven by an acceptable portfolio of evidence or sitting and internal examination
• Knowledge of medical terminology; Anatomy and Physiology
• Knowledge of GDPR

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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

• Bank Clinical Coders (PDF, 283.3KB)
• Privacy Policy (PDF, 441.0KB)
• AFC Pay Poster 25/26 (PDF, 32.3KB)
• Behaviours Framework (JPG, 298.0KB)
• Medical Payscales 2/2025 (PDF, 187.5KB)