Clinical Coding Divisional Lead

Countess of Chester; Chester; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRP £1500 per annum

Job summary

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Clinical Coding and Data Governance professional to provide high-quality coding services across divisions, reporting to the Clinical Coding and Data Governance Manager.

The role includes leading coding standards, producing regular reports, liaising with divisional clinicians, and ensuring accuracy and timely data entry, with a Recruitment and Retention Premium of £1500 per annum.

Qualifications

• Provide high-quality clinical coding service to clinical divisions.
• Lead contact for divisions; resolve coding queries with clinical and operational staff.
• Develop regular reports on coding data including income, accuracy, benchmarking and validation.

Responsibilities

• Liaison between divisional clinicians and management for coding queries.
• Develop and provide regular reports for each division’s coding data.
• Drive improvements in coding accuracy and depth of data across the Trust.
• Ensure divisions have skilled, high-performing coders supporting outputs.

Skills

Clinical coding

Data governance

Reporting

Stakeholder liaison

Education

NHS related qualification or experience

Tools

Clinical coding classifications

Job description

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.

Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation

Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.

As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.

Job overview

Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week

The post holder will report to the Clinical Coding and Data Governance Manager and will be responsible for providing clinical divisions with a high quality, comprehensive clinical coding service.

This post has a Recruitment and Retention Premium (RRP) payment of £1500 per annum which is paid in monthly instalments. The RRP payment will be reviewed on an annual basis.

Work closely with the Division and advise on data recording practices to ensure clinical coding accurately reflects care delivered. To act as the lead contact with the designated Division and associated specialties, working with both clinical and operational managers to resolve coding queries, and communicate complex coding rules and standards to ensure accuracy and consistency of information

Abstract, analyse, translate and data entry of complex medical patient care records into diagnostic and procedural coding in an accurate and timely manner adhering to the Trust deadlines

Main duties of the job

Liaison between divisional clinicians and management teams for all coding related queries.

Proactively develop and provide regular reports for each division’s clinical coding data, including but not limited to income, clinical coding accuracy, benchmarking and consultant validation.

Work with each division to provide better access to the clinical coding department and drive forward improvements in the Trust’s clinical coding data, in terms of accuracy and depth of coding.

Develop a strong clinical coding presence within the organisation, to ensure constant engagement with the Trust’s clinical divisions to continuously drive improvements within clinical coding.

Ensure each divisional clinical coding team has experienced, accurate and high performing clinical coders, to ensure maximum quality and required outputs are maintained by the department.

Act as the Divisional expert and lead on all coding issues using, the clinical coding classifications and the implementation of these on Trust systems.

Create and maintain a strong working relationship with all key stakeholders including Divisional Managers, Clinicians, Heads of Nursing and operational staff within the organisation.

To hold and develop an excellent working knowledge of local and national clinical coding payment systems, with the ability to relay highly complex information effectively to a wide range of clinical and hospital staff groups.

Working for our organisation

The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.

The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service.Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
If the role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 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.

Enhanced DBS check applications that are submitted with omitted or incorrect information will be withdrawn. In the event errors are identified on your original application, a new application will need to be submitted and you will be required to pay the DBS application fee again.

The cost of the DBS application will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet these immigration rules

For further details on skilled worker sponsorship, please consult the UK Home Office guidance: Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK. Additionally, the New guidance for overseas applicants | NHS Employers provides helpful information on the recruitment process for candidates applying for roles in the UK.

Overseas candidates are responsible for their travel expenses.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependent's (over 18 years old) will also be subject to this requirement.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Name Michael Jones Job title Clinical Coding and Data Governance Manager Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01244 366285