Head of Clinical Coding Operations

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust seeks a seasoned Head of Clinical Coding Operations to provide senior operational leadership for the Coding Service, ensuring accurate, timely, and high-quality coded data to support patient care, performance, and income assurance.

You will collaborate with clinicians and digital teams to transform coding, expand CDI, and lead readiness for AI-enabled technologies and ICD-11 across the Trust.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a clinical coding/health information function.
• Track record of service improvement and partnership working in complex healthcare settings.
• Ability to influence strategy and guide change across multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational delivery of Clinical Coding across inpatient, outpatient and ED activity.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing workforce with performance management and staff development.
• Drive coding quality, productivity, timeliness and backlog reduction, ensuring compliance with standards.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical Coding

Healthcare Management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Professional qualification in Clinical Coding

Job description

This is an exceptional opportunity to join University Hospitals Dorset at a pivotal time in the development of our Clinical Coding and Health Information Management Service.

We are transforming Clinical Coding into a modern, clinically engaged and strategically important function, supported by strong executive sponsorship, investment and a clear vision for the future. As part of this transformation, we are expanding coding services, strengthening clinical engagement, developing new career pathways and exploring the adoption of AI support.

As Head of Clinical Coding Operations, you will provide senior operational leadership for the Trust's Clinical Coding Service, with responsibility for performance, quality, workforce leadership and service delivery across inpatient, outpatient and emergency department activity.

Working closely with clinicians, operational, finance and digital teams, you will drive improvements in clinical documentation and operational performance. You will lead a workforce, deliver sustainable service improvement and support the continued development of Clinical Coding within a wider Health Information Management model.

We are seeking an experienced, qualified Clinical Coding professional with a proven track record of leadership, service improvement and partnership working within complex healthcare organisations.

If you are looking for a role where you can influence strategy, lead change and make a lasting impact, we would love to hear from you.

As Head of Clinical Coding Operations, you will provide senior operational leadership for Clinical Coding services across University Hospitals Dorset, ensuring the delivery of accurate, timely and high-quality coded data that supports patient care, organisational performance and income assurance.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Leading the operational delivery of Clinical Coding services across inpatient, outpatient and emergency department activity.
• Managing and developing a high-performing workforce through effective leadership, workforce planning, performance management and staff development.
• Driving improvements in coding quality, productivity, timeliness and backlog reduction, ensuring compliance with national standards and local requirements.
• Working closely with clinicians, operational teams and corporate colleagues to improve clinical documentation and strengthen clinical engagement.
• Leading service transformation, including the expansion of outpatient and emergency department coding and the development of Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) approaches.
• Supporting coding assurance and quality improvement in partnership with the Health Information Management Data Assurance team.
• Supporting digital innovation and the safe adoption of AI-enabled technologies while ensuring readiness for future national developments, including ICD-11

The Health Information Management Service at University Hospitals Dorset brings together Clinical Coding, Data Quality and wider information management functions within a single service, creating opportunities for collaboration, innovation and professional development.

We are committed to creating a positive and supportive working environment where colleagues are encouraged to contribute ideas, challenge constructively and help shape service development. We place a strong emphasis on teamwork, visibility, professional standards and building effective relationships with clinicians and corporate colleagues.

As a senior leader within the service, you will work alongside an experienced management team helping to drive service improvement, strengthen clinical engagement and support the future development of Clinical Coding and Health Information Management services.

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently.

Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

UHD has active networks including Women's, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces.

We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Clinical Coding Leadership Team Job title: Clinical Coding Leadership Team Email address: [e-mail]