Senior Clinical Coder/Clinical Coder (ACC/Non-ACC)

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust; Poole; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Attraction incentive £6,000

Relocation support

Hybrid working

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust in Poole is recruiting a Senior Clinical Coder/Clinical Coder (ACC/Non-ACC) to join our modern, cross-site coding service. The role sits at NHS AfC Band 4 or Band 5, with full-time hours and hybrid working across UHD locations.

You will code across a wide range of specialties, including real-time data capture in wards and theatres, and you will mentor developing coders while pursuing accreditation.

Qualifications

• ACC status or NCCQ route demonstrated via portfolio or credentials.
• Sustained coding accuracy and breadth of specialty experience.
• Able to mentor, audit, and contribute to service improvement.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality, accurate coding across all specialties.
• Code complex and mortality cases and support real-time data capture.
• Support audit, data quality improvement, and validation activities; mentor coders.

Skills

ACC/Non-ACC

Clinical coding

Mortality coding

Mentoring

Education

CCQ Clinical Coding Qualification (ACC status)

Tools

EPR

PAS

Job description

Senior Clinical Coder/Clinical Coder (ACC/Non-ACC)

NHS AfC: Band 4 or Band 5

Main area Health Information Management Service (HIMS) Grade NHS AfC: Band 4 or Band 5 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working
• Other

37.5 hours per week (Hybrid working) Job ref 153-CO06315-A

Department name 01, UHD - General Recruitment Site University Hospitals Dorset NHSFT Town Poole/Bournemouth Salary £28,392 - £39,043 Dependent on experience/qualifications (ACC/Non-ACC) Salary period Yearly Closing 07/09/2026 23:59

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women\’s Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

Are you an experienced Clinical Coder looking to take the next step in your career?

At University Hospitals Dorset, we are building a modern Clinical Coding service that recognises both formal accreditation and demonstrable expertise. We are committed to creating inclusive, competency-based career pathways that value experience, capability, and professional judgement.

This role offers an opportunity to work across a wide range of specialties, including real-time coding within clinical environments such as wards, theatres and multidisciplinary team meetings.

For further insight into this role, please view the recruitment brochure. If you are applying via Trac please click here – Recruitment Brochure - Clinical Coding Department. If you are viewing via NHS Jobs, you can find the brochure under the ‘Supporting Links’ section.

We are pleased to offer a £6,000 attraction incentive payment for this role, with full details confirmed in line with Trust processes.

Relocation expenses may also be available, with details confirmed in line with Trust processes

Base Location: University Hospitals Dorset with cross site and hybrid working

Interview Date: 17th - 18th September 2026

Main duties of the job

As a Senior Clinical Coder, you will:

• Deliver high-quality, accurate, and timely coding across all specialties
• Work within clinical environments (wards, theatres, MDTs) to support real-time data capture
• Code complex and mortality cases
• Support audit, data quality improvement, and validation activity
• Act as a mentor and role model for developing coders

Who we’re looking for

We recognise that expertise in clinical coding is developed through both formal accreditation and practical experience.

You can apply through one of the following routes:

• NCCQ Accredited Clinical Coder (ACC)
• Demonstrable, well-evidenced coding portfolio showing:
  • Sustained coding accuracy (typically ≥90%)
  • Breadth of specialty experience
  • Strong clinical knowledge and interpretation skills
  • Evidence of complex case handling
  • Contribution to mentoring, audit, or service improvement
  • Sound professional judgement in coding decisions

We welcome applications from experienced coders who may not hold the NCCQ but can clearly demonstrate the required level of competence through experience and evidence.

Working for our organisation

• Be part of a service thatvalues expertise, not just qualifications
• Access a structured pathway towardExpert Clinical Coder roles (Band 6)
• Gain experience in clinically integrated coding models
• Work in a supportive environment focused on development and progression
• Contribute to a forward-thinking service preparing for ICD-11 and AI-enabled coding

Our approach

We are committed to:

• Fair and inclusive progression routes
• Recognising diverse pathways into expertise
• Maintaining high standards through robust competency assessment
• Supporting staff to achieve accreditation alongside career progression

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.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the Job Descriptions and Person Specifications for further details about the Senior Clinical Coder and Clinical Coder roles.

Person specification

Qualifications

• CCQ Clinical Coding Qualification (ACC status)
• Evidence of equivalent competency portfolio route or Evidence of continued professional development in clinical coding
• Coding audit or mentorship training

Experience

• A minimum of 3 years’ coding experience – (used as a baseline indicator of sustained exposure only not a stand-alone qualifying metric).
• Proven experience resolving clinical queries and clarifying complex or ambiguous documentation
• Sustained coding accuracy of ≥90% across all specialties
• Evidence of meeting productivity, timeliness, and service KPIs
• Extensive clinical coding experience across a wide range of specialties in an acute NHS environment, with demonstrable ability to code complex case types.
• Experience coding mortality cases or other high-complexity, high-impact specialties.
• Familiarity with multi-site, cross-specialty coding rotation models.

Skills

• Ability to validate coded data for completeness and accuracy
• Competent use of clinical record systems (e.g., EPR, PAS, electronic document management systems) to review records and update coding or administrative data

Knowledge

• National Clinical Coding Standards and NHS Digital classification updates
• Confidentiality, Information Governance, Data Protection, and Caldicott principles
• Understanding of Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) principles

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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