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Job summary

Main area
Corporate - IM&T
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
210-2024-665
Employer
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Countess of Chester Hospital
Town
Chester
Salary
£28,407 - £34,581 pa
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
05/08/2024 23:59

Employer heading

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust logo

Senior Clinical Coder

Band 5

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.  
Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation
Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviors.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.
As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit. 

Job overview

Working Full Time - 37.5 Hours per Week

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Clinical Coder to join the Clinical Coding Team at The Countess of Chester Foundation NHS Trust.  Applicants will already be ACC qualified and either have experience of supervising staff or looking to take the next steps in to management.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual who is a team player with excellent communication skills as well as a proven track record of problem solving and negotiation. The post holder will need to work closely with the Clinical Coding Management Team to promote clinical engagement and raise the profile of Clinical Coding in the Trust.

You will be responsible for delivering high standards of accuracy across the team and ensuring that coding deadlines are met.

Hybrid remote/onsite working arrangement with flexible working hours.

Informal enquiries and visits to the department are encouraged. Please contact: Michael Jones, Data Quality and Clinical Coding Manager on 01244 366285 or by emailing [email protected]

Main duties of the job

  • To undertake clinical coding as required throughout the month with an average coding rate of five FCEs per hour per day, with coding accuracy at a minimum of 95%, in line with the IG toolkit level 3 standards for experienced coders with ACC qualification.
  • To have a proactive and positive approach in working with consultants and clinicians to ensure that sufficient code-able information is clearly provided in case notes to enable high levels of data quality.
  • To manage your own day to day workload including the supervision of staff and allocation of work within own area.
  • To mentor Trainee coders and ensure that they follow the Clinical Coding Training Programme and attend the Standards course.

Working for our organisation

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:

  • The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds.
  • Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
  • Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Trust employs over 6258 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 407,000. This includes 357,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.

The Trust is a busy district general hospital and in 2022/2023, there were more than 503,342 patient attendances (inpatient, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery. This is an increase of nearly 10,000 compared to the previous year when there were 494,387 patient attendances.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs are deducted from salary following appointment. The cost of the DBS application is £23 (standard) or £43 (enhanced), this cost will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £13 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Accredited Clinical Coder (ACC)
  • Clinical Coder Refresher Status is current.
  • Evidence of continued professional development by attendance at Clinical coding specialty workshops
  • Pass mark of 85% for internal specialist clinical coding exam undertaken before appointment to the role
Desirable criteria
  • Degree level or equivalent.

Knowledge and experience

Essential criteria
  • Substantial clinical coding experience in an acute NHS Trust post ACC qualification
  • Experience of assigning ICD-10 and OPCS-4 codes in a wide range of specialties
  • Experience of explaining complex coding rules to junior coders.
  • Experience of applying coding rules and conventions in order to reach appropriate coding decisions.
  • Knowledge of clinical coding audit process
  • Experience of building effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders at all levels of seniority in order to validate coding and explain coding rules and conventions.
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of staff supervision/leadership including organising and distributing workload

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - SilverMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into health

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Michael Jones
Job title
Data Quality and Clinical Coding Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01244 366285
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