Coding Analyst & Clinical Engagement Lead

NHS; Leicester; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust invites applications for a Coding Analyst and Clinical Engagement Lead within the Clinical Coding Department. The role combines advanced clinical coding, data analysis, audit, education and engagement with clinicians to improve documentation, coding quality and tariff recovery.

You will lead coding improvement initiatives, deliver training, support audits and provide expert advice on coding standards and national rules, working with clinicians,

Qualifications

• First Level Degree or equivalent experience.
• Holds National Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ).
• Working towards or holds Clinical Coding Audit qualification.
• 5+ years NHS experience in Clinical Coding.
• Good understanding of HSMR and SHMI.
• Proven engagement with clinicians to improve documentation quality and data quality.

Responsibilities

• Validate coded clinical activity to support accurate HRG allocation and tariff reimbursement.
• Identify documentation gaps and opportunities for coding optimisation.
• Resolve complex coding issues through specialist knowledge and clinician engagement.
• Lead engagement with clinical teams to improve documentation quality and coding accuracy.
• Contribute to data quality improvements and income recovery with clear validation evidence.

Skills

NHS experience

Engagement with clinicians

Data analysis

Coding validation

Education

First Level Degree

NCCQ

Clinical Coding Audit qualification

Tools

Electronic patient administration systems

Job description

Coding Analyst & Clinical Engagement Lead

The closing date is 20 September 2026.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Clinical Coding Department at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust for an experienced and motivated Coding Analyst and Clinical Engagement Lead. Part of the Digital & Data Division, this role combines advanced clinical coding expertise, data analysis, audit, education, and clinical engagement. Working closely with clinicians, operational teams, and senior leaders, you will drive improvements in clinical documentation, coding quality, data integrity, and reimbursement, ensuring patient activity is accurately reflected across the Trust. The Clinical Coding service prides itself on delivering high-quality, timely coded data, consistently achieving Payment by Results deadlines while supporting continuous quality improvement. As a key member of the team, you will lead coding improvement initiatives, deliver training and engagement programmes, support audits and validation work, and provide specialist advice on coding standards and clinical documentation.

Please note that the banding of this role is subject to the outcome of the Trust's Job Description evaluation process.

Main duties of the job

Validate coded clinical activity by reviewing electronic patient records and source documentation to support accurate clinical coding, appropriate HRG allocation and correct tariff reimbursement.

Support improvement in the depth, specificity and timeliness of clinical coding by identifying documentation gaps, coding issues and opportunities for optimisation.

Resolve complex clinical coding and documentation issues through application of specialist knowledge, professional judgement and engagement with clinicians, escalating only matters requiring management intervention, policy decisions or specialist clinical clarification.

Contribute to sustained improvements in data quality and income recovery by maintaining clear validation evidence, recording amendments and supporting tracking of financial impact where coding is amended.

Use findings from validation, audit and query resolution to identify specialty-specific themes, recurring errors and training needs for the Clinical Coding Management Team.

About us

Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).

We have four primary goals:

• high-quality care for all,
• being a great place to work,
• partnerships for impact,
• research and education excellence

And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:

• we are compassionate,
• we are proud,
• we are inclusive,
• we are one team

This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:

Job responsibilities

Please see the detailed Job description and person specification attached to the Job advertisement ,

The post holder will provide specialist expertise in clinical coding validation, clinical documentation improvement and coding optimisation across the Trust. Working autonomously, they will analyse highly complex patient records, resolve complex coding and documentation issues, and provide expert advice to clinicians, managers and senior leaders on clinical coding standards, national payment rules and data quality requirements.

The post holder will lead engagement with clinical teams to improve documentation quality, support service improvement initiatives and identify opportunities to enhance coding accuracy, HRG allocation and tariff reimbursement. They will influence changes in clinical documentation and coding practice through specialist advice, training, audit findings and improvement programmes.

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

• Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours

Training & Qualifications

• First Level Degree or equivalent experience
• Holds National Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ)
• Working towards or holds Clinical Coding Audit qualification

Knowledge and Experience

• Considerable (5 years+) NHS experience, within the Clinical Coding Function
• Good understanding of HSMR and SHMI
• Implementing change in clinical coding working practices & Developing/implementing policies/procedures
• Extensive validation experience with clinical staff & Proven experience of engaging with clinicians to improve clinical documentation quality, coding accuracy and data quality outcomes
• Expert knowledge of clinical coding standards, national tariff/payment rules, data quality frameworks and NHS income flows
• Experience of using electronic patient administration systems Knowledge and understanding of NHS commissioning and benchmarking.

Communication and relationship skills

• Outstanding communication, negotiation and influencing skills with proven ability to engage clinicians, senior managers and multidisciplinary teams to deliver service improvement. .
• Ability to communicate highly complex financial and coding information clearly to a range of audiences including clinicians, managers and multidisciplinary teams
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing at all levels including presentations to large audiences or senior staff

Analytical and Judgement skills

• Demonstrable ability to deal with highly sensitive and complex issues including use of analytical skills and judgment where opinion is divided, e.g. when coding complex cases or procedures previously not coded
• Ability to evaluate financial, operational and quality impacts of coding improvement initiatives

Planning and organisation skills

• Effective planning and organisational skills
• Self-motivated and able to use initiative to determine, prioritise and manage own workload, influencing others to achieve agreed goals and targets

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.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust