Job summary
Would you like to join our Clinical Coding team as either a Band 4 Clinical Coder* or a Band 5 Accredited Clinical Coder incl. 15% Recruitment & Retainment (R&R) premium**? Read on to learn more about this rewarding role and submit your application.
The Clinical Coding service is a part of the Digital Division of the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group (UHN) and is responsible for extracting and codifying complex clinical information that describes a patient's diagnostic and procedural healthcare status within an episode of care in a timely manner.
The ability of the UHN Group to accurately record and codify its clinical activity is fundamental to understanding the quality of its clinical services. Our coded data is used by all parts of the Group's business to deliver trusted and high-quality services to patients.
Clinical Coders are a core component of the Clinical Coding service and have a crucial supporting role in the overall management of the Group as their output directly influences income through the NHS Payment Scheme
Main duties of the job
As either a Clinical Coder or an Accredited Clinical Coder you will be responsible for codifying in a timely manner complex clinical activity according to all relevant National Clinical Coding Standards and Local Clinical Coding Policies.
As a Clinical Coder you will be expected to evidence a good grasp of National Clinical Coding Standards (evidenced by audit results and attending regular Clinical Coding Standards Refresher courses and other associated training).
As an Accredited Clinical Coder you will be expected to evidence an expert grasp of National Clinical Coding Standards (evidenced by audit results, maintaining your professional Accredited Clinical Coder status and attending regular Clinical Coding Standards Refresher courses and other associated training).
You will assist the Clinical Coding Team Leads to support and mentor Associate Clinical Coders and/or Apprentice Clinical Coders and to achieve the submission of codified data in a timely manner.
About us
Working for your organisation In July 2021 we formed the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group, bringing together the constituent organisations of Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust.
Our service is led by an open, transparent and dedicated leadership team who are striving to create a productive and supportive work environment which delivers a high quality codified output to accurately describe our patient's healthcare status and needs.
We support flexible working including home or remote working.
You will be well rewarded for your work with a 15% R&R premium.**
You will be well supported to develop yourself professionally.
You will be supported to become comfortable with working to an Agile framework as a member of the Digital portfolio.
Your quality as a coder will be improved by a well-established Clinical Coding Quality Assurance function.
You will be able to input meaningfully to the direction of travel and cultural development of our newly established team
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for a detailed list of role responsibilities.
* Successful applicants who do not hold a National Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ) will join UHN as a Band 4 Clinical Coder. As per the associated Job Description your professional development will be well supported and you will be anticipated to earn your NCCQ within 2-3 years, dependent on skillset. Upon attaining your NCCQ and evidencing the required competencies you will progress to a Band 5 Accredited Clinical Coder role.
** Successful applicants who hold a National Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ) will join UHN as a Band 5 Accredited Clinical Coder. 15% R&R premium is paid monthly and is subject to annual review.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification documents for a detailed list of role responsibilities.
* Successful applicants who do not hold a National Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ) will join UHN as a Band 4 Clinical Coder. As per the associated Job Description your professional development will be well supported and you will be anticipated to earn your NCCQ within 2-3 years, dependent on skillset. Upon attaining your NCCQ and evidencing the required competencies you will progress to a Band 5 Accredited Clinical Coder role.
** Successful applicants who hold a National Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ) will join UHN as a Band 5 Accredited Clinical Coder. 15% R&R premium is paid monthly and is subject to annual review.
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
- A minimum of 5 GCSEs including English and Maths at least Grade C/Grade 4 or equivalent qualification.
- Successful completion of a Clinical Coding Standards Refresher Course within the last 3 years.
- Successful completion of a Clinical Coding Standards Course. *
Desirable
- A Level in a STEM subject at least Grade C or equivalent qualification.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Strong knowledge of National Clinical Coding Standards as evidenced by audit results and in-house examination. *
- Strong knowledge of human anatomy and physiology and medical terminology. *
- Good level of knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office 365 suite
- Administration and clerical experience in an office environment.
- Experience with accurate data entry.
- At least 2 years' experience of working in an Acute NHS Trust or equivalent knowledge. *
- Experience with hospital and/or clinical information systems.*
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience with SNOMED-CT.
- Good understanding of the relationship between codified data and HRG allocation and the various uses of codified data across the NHS.
- Experience of mentoring colleagues.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work positively under time pressures.
- Ability to work to a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills both written and verbal.
- Ability to plan and prioritise workload to ensure timescales are met
- Ability to apply self-learning directive to maintain and develop own skills and knowledge
- Fast and accurate keyboard skills with good IT skills.
- Knowledge of the importance of confidentiality, the Data Protection Act and Caldicott principles.
- Ability to maintain frequent prolonged concentration with a VDU.
- Capable of safely lifting and handling medical records.
Key Competencies/Personal Qualities & Attributes
Essential
- Passionate and committed to bring our Dedicated to Excellence values to life, improving the way we work with each other, particularly focusing on empowerment, equality, diversity and inclusion of our staff, patients and service users.
- Adaptable to change.
- Willingness to undertake training to develop professionally.
- A keen interest in data quality.
- Capable of handling indirect exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances.
- Ability to travel between the Kettering and Northampton Hospital sites and other sites across the Group.
Person Specification
Education, Training & Qualifications
Essential
- A minimum of 5 GCSEs including English and Maths at least Grade C/Grade 4 or equivalent qualification.
- Successful completion of a Clinical Coding Standards Refresher Course within the last 3 years.
- Successful completion of a Clinical Coding Standards Course. *
Desirable
- A Level in a STEM subject at least Grade C or equivalent qualification.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Strong knowledge of National Clinical Coding Standards as evidenced by audit results and in-house examination. *
- Strong knowledge of human anatomy and physiology and medical terminology. *
- Good level of knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office 365 suite
- Administration and clerical experience in an office environment.
- Experience with accurate data entry.
- At least 2 years' experience of working in an Acute NHS Trust or equivalent knowledge. *
- Experience with hospital and/or clinical information systems.*
Desirable
- Knowledge and experience with SNOMED-CT.
- Good understanding of the relationship between codified data and HRG allocation and the various uses of codified data across the NHS.
- Experience of mentoring colleagues.
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work positively under time pressures.
- Ability to work to a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
- Excellent interpersonal communication skills both written and verbal.
- Ability to plan and prioritise workload to ensure timescales are met
- Ability to apply self-learning directive to maintain and develop own skills and knowledge
- Fast and accurate keyboard skills with good IT skills.
- Knowledge of the importance of confidentiality, the Data Protection Act and Caldicott principles.
- Ability to maintain frequent prolonged concentration with a VDU.
- Capable of safely lifting and handling medical records.
Key Competencies/Personal Qualities & Attributes
Essential
- Passionate and committed to bring our Dedicated to Excellence values to life, improving the way we work with each other, particularly focusing on empowerment, equality, diversity and inclusion of our staff, patients and service users.
- Adaptable to change.
- Willingness to undertake training to develop professionally.
- A keen interest in data quality.
- Capable of handling indirect exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances.
- Ability to travel between the Kettering and Northampton Hospital sites and other sites across the Group.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
