Senior Clinical Coder

Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:

• Freeman Hospital

• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)

• Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)

• Newcastle Dental Hospital

• Newcastle Fertility Centre

• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria

• Northern Genetics Service

• Cramlington Manor Walks

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under ‘Documents to download’ or ‘Supporting documents’.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Clinical Coding is fundamental to the national reimbursement mechanism of Payment by Results (PbR) and has a major influence on Trust income and future funding. We offer the second highest number of specialised services than any other group of hospitals in the UK. We have an enviable high profile throughout the Trust allowing clinical coders to work with individual clinicians and clinical directorate leads.

What will the role entail?

You will be directly accountable for improving data quality through clinical engagement, ensuring the ongoing accuracy of clinical coded data and meeting the Trust’s strict contractual deadlines. As well as coding to a high standard, you will work with our Team Leads in provision of mentoring and supporting junior staff, assist in the engagement of internal audit and liaise with senior clinicians where appropriate.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking to recruit highly motivated and enthusiastic individuals with excellent clinical coding, analytical and organisational skills to join our large and friendly team. You will enjoy the on-going development opportunities that our department provides which will ensure that you have the most up to date and advanced coding skills required to code in a Trust of this calibre.

Why choose us?

Our department delivers effective leadership, career progression and excellent benefits in one of the most advanced teaching NHS Foundation Trusts in the country. We also have a clear, structured career progression pathway and with senior clinical coders having the opportunity to progress into team leaders, auditors, trainers and management positions throughout the Trust.

We offer a high degree of flexibility and for experienced staff there is the opportunity to work remotely, due to the technological advancements at Newcastle hospitals.

You will be directly accountable for improving data quality through clinical engagement, ensuring the ongoing accuracy of clinical coded data and meeting the Trust’s strict contractual deadlines. As well as coding to a high standard, you will work with our Team Leads in provision of mentoring and supporting junior staff, assist in the engagement of internal audit and liaise with senior clinicians where appropriate.

To be responsible for extracting highly complex clinical information from electronic health records, to translate relevant medical terminology using ICD10 /OPCS4 Classifications.

To hold and maintain a detailed understanding of national clinical coding standards, have an excellent knowledge and understanding of medical terminology, human anatomy and physiology to aid accurate clinical coding across all specialities.

Required to produce consistent, accurate, complete and timely clinically coded data in accordance with national standards, local coding policies and contracting deadlines.

Required to work autonomously without direct instruction or supervision when self-allocating work and achievement of targets.

Required to relay complex clinical coding information to other staff groups, including senior clinicians.

Job Purpose

• To be responsible for extracting highly complex clinical information from both paper and electronic health records, to translate relevant medical terminology using international and national classifications

• Is required to produce consistent, accurate, complete and timely coded clinical data in accordance with all national standards, local clinical coding policies and commissioner deadlines.

• Requirement to consistently deliver against demanding deadlines and accountable for maintaining accuracy and compliance with frequently changing national standards and clinical coding conventions.

• Ensure targets are consistently achieved for both throughput and accuracy of clinical coded data.

• To work autonomously without direct instruction or supervision when selfallocating work and achievement of daily coding targets.

• Ensure compliance with all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) applicable to the clinical coding service.

• To be proactive and flexible in moving towards an electronic way of working within a clinical coding setting, as the Trust develops its electronic patient record and achieves its strategic objective of becoming a ‘paper-lite’ organisation.

• To act as mentor to less experienced clinical coders

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Important note on completion of reference section of Application Form

All references from current and previous employers will be sought and must cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.

Candidates who are shortlisted for interview will be contacted by e-mail. You should check your SPAM folders as well as your inbox. If you have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date you should assume your application has been unsuccessful.

If you would like a rewarding career in the profession of Clinical Coding, we are looking for experienced, highly motivated, and highly skilled qualified Clinical Coders to join our already established Clinical Coding Team.

We are also looking for individuals who are interested in a career in Clinical Coding and would like the opportunity to join us as a Trainee Clinical Coder.

ACC Qualified coders recruited at band 5, Non ACC Trainee (unqualified) recruit at Band 3

Candidates entering at Band 5 will have gained Accreditation (ACC) and must have extensive practical coding experience with skills to code across multiple complex specialties.

Entry level for those who are looking to embark on a career in Clinical Coding is Band 3 – 4 depending on experience and qualifications., Candidates entering at Band 3 must have a basic knowledge of ICD10 and OPCS4 classifications, basic knowledge for Anatomy and Physiology, possess A -level qualifications or equivalent, have excellent communication skills and experience working to targets and key performance indicators. Progression to Band 4 is dependent on passing the Clinical Coding Standards Course and attaining the set competencies attached to this role.

Candidates entering at Band 4 must have an in-depth knowledge of OPCS 4 and ICD10 classifications, extensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology, A-level qualification or equivalent, previous practical coding experience in an acute hospital setting and hold the Clinical Coding Standards Course Certificate. To progress to Band 5 you will be expected to study and pass the National Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ), plus attain the set competencies attached to the Senior Qualified Clinical Coder role.

The training period to become a Senior Qualified Clinical Coder is a minimum of 3 years.