Trainee Clinical Coder

Stockport; Stockport; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 27-33 days

Salary sacrifice schemes

Cycle to work

Salary finance

Stockport Credit Union

Job summary

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Trainee Clinical Coder – AFC Band 3. The role starts on-site with training, moving to a hybrid pattern as knowledge grows, and offers a pathway to ACC qualification within 2–3 years.

Join a dedicated, award-winning team at Stepping Hill Hospital, contributing to accurate data recording and national coding standards. Flexible working patterns and a supportive environment aid work-life balance.

Qualifications

• 5 GCSEs/O’Levels grade A-C or equivalent, including English, Maths and a science.
• AMSPAR Qualification.
• Degree/A-Level Biology.
• Completed NHS Digital Clinical Coding Standards Course.
• Knowledge of medical terminology, human anatomy and physiology.
• Knowledge of National Clinical Coding standards, and their application.
• Excellent IT skills including Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to work under pressure and show excellent attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• The ideal candidates will possess excellent analytical and judgement skills, be methodical with a high degree of accuracy and excellent attention to detail; you will need to be a team player who can manage your own workload whilst contributing to meeting local and national deadlines.
• You will have strong interpersonal and organisational skills and will be expected to develop effective working relationships with colleagues at all levels.
• The role will require some interaction and collaboration with clinical and divisional staff to ensure data is accurately recorded in accordance with national standards.
• Full support and training will be provided to allow the right candidates to become ACC qualified within 2-3 years.

Skills

Medical terminology knowledge

Anatomy & physiology knowledge

National Clinical Coding standards

IT skills (Microsoft Office)

Attention to detail

Education

5 GCSEs/O’Levels including English Maths and a science

AMSPAR Qualification

Degree/A-Level Biology

NHS Digital Clinical Coding Standards Course

Tools

NHS IT systems

Job description

From the exceptional opportunities we offer, to the remarkable care we provide for our patients, we think there is something special about working here.

Main area Clinical Coding Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Hybrid working will be offered as knowledge and experience increases.) Job ref 362-ADM3COD-10-26

Site Stepping Hill Hospital Town Stockport Salary £25,760 - £27,476 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 08/11/2026 23:59 Interview date 17/11/2026

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

There are lots of good reasons to choose to come and work at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. A dynamic integrated Trust with integrity and vision. Exactly the same qualities you’ll see in yourself. Stockport NHS Foundation Trust aims to be the organisation of choice for patients and an employer of choice for staff. In order to continually improve all aspects of our patient experience, we rely upon having a highly skilled, motivated, diverse, productive and patient focused workforce.

Stockport Foundation Trust is one of four ‘specialist’ hospital sites in Greater Manchester. Being a ‘specialist’ hospital will enhance our general surgery, anaesthetics, critical care and emergency medicine for the benefit of people in Stockport, High Peak, Cheshire and across Greater Manchester.

In your application for this post, please describe how your experience and skills align with 'Our values-based behaviours' ( see additional documentation) and provide examples.

Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment

As well as recognising previous NHS service, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is a member of the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment. If you are currently employed by Greater Manchester Local Authority, Combined Authority, GMFRS, TfGM as well as other public service organisations, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust will recognise your previous service for sickness and maternity/paternity/adoption entitlement and also for annual leave purposes (providing there has been no break in service). If you currently work for one of the above organisations and successfully apply for a post with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, please ensure the Recruitment team are aware so that this service is reflected in your contract of employment.

Job overview

Trainee Clinical Coder – AFC Band 3

An exciting opportunity has arisen and we are looking to recruit a Trainee Clinical Coder with enthusiasm and motivation to join our dedicated, award winning and friendly team.

Trainee coders are required to work on site for their initial training period, eventually building up to a hybrid working pattern, with all coders currently working from home 3 days a week. We promote flexible working with varied working patterns to suit individual personal commitments, encouraging a healthy work/life balance.

This is a great time to join us as we embrace increased collaborative working with colleagues at Tameside & Glossop ICFT, sharing a Head of Clinical Coding and a Training Manager. We are hopeful that this will allow for more support and consistency across both coding teams.

This post is also open to individuals who are looking to begin their career in Clinical Coding, and are willing to commit to the training and development necessary to become qualified. You should have an interest in medical terminology and human anatomy, an inquiring mind, and excellent reading comprehension.

Main duties of the job

The ideal candidates will possess excellent analytical and judgement skills, be methodical with a high degree of accuracy and excellent attention to detail; you will need to be a team player who can manage your own workload whilst contributing to meeting local and national deadlines. You will have strong interpersonal and organisational skills and will be expected to develop effective working relationships with colleagues at all levels. The role will require some interaction and collaboration with clinical and divisional staff to ensure data is accurately recorded in accordance with national standards.

Full support and training will be provided to allow the right candidates to become ACC qualified within 2-3 years.

This post is also open to experienced clinical coders, who will be paid up to Band 5, depending on experience and qualifications.

Working for our organisation

We hold a unique position in the Stockport community as the provider of healthcare and we are one of its largest employers.

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

We actively encourage applications irrespective of race, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage & civil partnership, or pregnancy or maternity. Recognising those communities that are underrepresented within our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from you.

We recognise that flexible working is important. We take requests for flexible working seriously, consider any request we receive and try to work with you, so we can explore if your request may fit with the needs of the service.

Benefits we offer to you:

• Between 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays
• Salary sacrifice schemes for lease cars, home electronics and more, to make your salary go further
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary finance – for loans, savings, budget planning and tips on managing debt
• Stockport Credit Union– for local financial advice

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The job description gives an overview of the main tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specifications focusses on the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. These documents are attached on the page and can be downloaded.

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Important Notice on Visa Sponsorship Eligibility

Please note that whilst the trust does offer sponsorship this role isunfortunately not eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Skilled Worker visa route. This is due to the position not meeting the minimum salary threshold of £41,700 per annumand/or the requiredskill levelset by UK Visas and Immigration.

We appreciate your interest in this opportunity and encourage applications from candidates who already have theright to work in the UK.

Our organisation embraces the responsible and ethical use of AI technologies to support learning, innovation, and productivity. Candidates may use AI tools when preparing their applications; however, applications must authentically reflect the applicant's own qualifications, experience, and achievements. Any use of AI should enhance, rather than replace, the candidate's own input and professional judgement.

Person specification

Qualifications

• 5 GSCEs/O’Levels grade A-C or equivalent, including English, Maths and a science
• AMSPAR Qualification
• Degree/A-Level Biology
• Completed NHS Digital Clinical Coding Standards Course

Experience

• Experience working under own initiative and as part of a team
• Experience in using a number of different NHS systems
• Experience sharing knowledge and skills with others

Knowledge

• Knowledge of medical terminology, human anatomy and physiology
• Knowledge of National Clinical Coding standards, and their application

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent IT skills including the ability to use Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to work under pressure and scrutiny, and show excellent attention to detail

Applicants are encouraged to read the documents attached to this vacancy before applying, including the job description and person specification and the information for applicants which includes useful information to assist you in completing your application.

From time to time we may need to close a vacancy early when in receipt of a sufficient number of applications. If you are interested in this post and wish to be considered, we strongly advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note that all correspondence will be via your NHS Jobs account. Unfortunately we are not able to acknowledge each application. If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please consider that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion. Please also note that Stockport NHS Foundation Trust are unable to refund Interview expenses or re-location costs.

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust is committed to promoting and championing a culture of diversity, fairness and equality for all applicants and employees. Applications are welcomed from all backgrounds and we strive to reflect the community we serve in our diverse workforce. Our "two tick" kite mark guarantees a candidate with a disability, who fulfills the essential criteria, an interview at the Trust. We can make reasonable adjustments, and offer support and advice in a variety of ways on request.

At the Trust we always adhere to the UK Visas and Immigration rules pertaining to right to work; candidates who do not hold UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) citizenship are required to obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to be eligible to apply for either a Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa which allows them to work in the UK, unless they have eligibility to work in the UK via another route.

To avoid disappointment, candidates wishing to apply for a role at the Trust who do not hold UK or Republic of Ireland citizenship and who would require a CoS from an employer, should carry out a self-assessment process to identify the likelihood of obtaining CoS by visiting Work in the UK .

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) If you choose to use AI when writing a job application, it is essential to personalise the content, particularly the supporting statement. AI cannot fully understand the specific context or requirements of a role and may generate inaccurate or misleading information. Over – reliance on AI can reduce an applicant’s chances of success, as it cannot effectively demonstrate how individual knowledge, experience, and skills meet the job criteria. Applicants should ensure their statements reflect a personal voice and avoid a generic or robotic tone.
Please note that we monitor the use of AI in applications. Applicants who use AI are required to declare this as part of the application process.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Application numbers

The vacancy may close early if it attracts a high number of applications. Please complete and submit your application in good time to avoid disappointment.