Employer: Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Location: Whiston Hospital, Warrington Road, Prescot, Merseyside, L35 5DR, United Kingdom.
Salary: Advertised at around £32,073 - £39,043 per annum (NHS AfC Band 5).
Employment type: Not specified in the supplied listing.
Work arrangement: Fully remote, hybrid or on-site working options available.
Job overview:
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking an experienced and qualified Clinical Coding Specialist to join its centralised clinical coding department.
The successful candidate will be responsible for reviewing patient medical records and translating diagnostic and procedural information into accurate clinical codes using recognised NHS coding classifications.
The role involves working across different medical specialities, ensuring that clinical information is properly recorded to support patient care, NHS reporting requirements and hospital funding.
The specialist will also work closely with clinicians, managers and other coding professionals to improve data quality, resolve coding issues and support the development of less experienced team members.
The position offers opportunities for professional progression, with flexible working arrangements, including fully remote working.
Responsibilities
- Analyse and extract diagnostic and procedural information from patient medical records across all clinical specialities.
- Translate medical information into appropriate codes using ICD-10 and OPCS classification systems.
- Enter clinical coding information accurately into the Trust's Patient Administration System (PAS) using encoding software.
- Ensure all coding activities are completed accurately and within established deadlines.
- Work closely with the Clinical Coding Delivery Team Manager to improve clinical documentation and coding quality.
- Undertake clinical coding validation to identify errors, inconsistencies and data quality concerns.
- Advise clinicians and other healthcare professionals on appropriate clinical documentation and coding practices.
- Communicate complex coding issues and explain national clinical coding standards to medical and non-medical staff.
- Work with designated clinical divisions and specialities to resolve coding queries.
- Mentor and support less experienced clinical coders through guidance, knowledge sharing and training.
- Collaborate with clinical coding trainers and auditors to address identified training and performance gaps.
- Ensure coding practices comply with national clinical coding standards and relevant NHS requirements.
- Support the Trust in meeting mandatory reporting, financial and data management requirements.
Requirements
- Must possess an Accredited Clinical Coding (ACC) qualification.
- Must have an excellent standard of education.
- Broad clinical coding experience covering at least five medical specialities.
- Good knowledge of inpatient and outpatient clinical coding processes.
- Understanding of the National Tariff Payment System.
- Knowledge of SNOMED CT and relevant clinical coding standards.
- Good understanding of data protection legislation, Caldicott principles and associated guidance.
- Strong knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology.
- Excellent IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
- Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to meet deadlines.
- Excellent concentration and attention to detail.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills to work with consultants, clinicians and administrative staff.
- Experience working with clinicians or senior healthcare professionals.
- Experience delivering presentations relating to clinical coding.
- Flexibility and willingness to travel across the Trust's different sites when required.
- Experience with HRG Grouper and clinical coding audits is desirable.
- A degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience is desirable.
Benefits
- Competitive annual salary ranging from £32,073 to £39,043.
- Permanent employment opportunity within an established NHS Foundation Trust.
- Fully remote working option, with hybrid and on-site alternatives.
- Flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance.
- Access to a generous NHS pension scheme.
- 27 days of annual leave upon commencement, pro rata, with applicable NHS leave arrangements.
- Access to a range of NHS staff discounts.
- Staff health and wellbeing support programmes.
- Opportunities for professional development, career progression and additional clinical coding expertise.
- Employee recognition programmes, including Employee of the Month.
- Opportunities to work alongside experienced clinical coding professionals and healthcare specialists.
- Support for training, mentoring and continuous professional development.