Job vacancy: Senior Clinical Coder, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester

Job summary

Main area

Clinical Coding

Grade

NHS AfC: Band 5

Contract

Permanent

Hours

Full time
Flexible working
Home or remote working

37.5 hours per week

Job ref

358-7067430-COR

Employer: University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Leicester Royal Infirmary
Town: Leicester
Salary: £29,970 - £36,483 per annum / pro rota for part time
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 11/05/2025 23:59

Senior Clinical Coder

NHS AfC: Band 5

AI tools like chatbots and virtual assistants can support you as you complete your application. For example, they can check for spelling or grammar errors, or help you to decide what to include.

But they shouldn’t replace your own responses or be used to write the application for you.

Relying too much on AI can negatively impact your chances of success, because automatically generated answers:

might not be specific or relevant enough to address the criteria in the recruitment profile
often seem generic and not personalised enough – an AI response won’t show your unique voice and perspective
could misrepresent information about you, such as your qualifications, skills and experience

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Managing, organising and prioritising their own workload to ensure work is accurate and complete to meet targets & Trust deadlines.
• Identifying and analysing patterns of errors and notifying these to manager, with proposed potential solutions.
• Proactively develop key business relationships within the CMG’s establishing yourself as the Coding lead/expert to ensure clinical engagement with the divisional stakeholders. Be a specialist advisor and link to the CMG’s ensuring that the coder/clinician linkage is effective and attending all necessary business/governance meetings.
• Specifically meet with senior clinicians to discuss and resolve complex coding discrepancies ensuring the coded data accurately reflects the patient’s episode of care, thus ensuring the accurate income for UHL.
• Manage and resolve complex enquiries liaising with Senior Clinicians using high level motivational, negotiating communication skills and proving an expert knowledge of the subject.
• Provide advice and support to all members of the team, participating in team events and representing the team when required.

Service Delivery & Development

• To accurately analyse, interpret and extract relevant clinical information and data (including complex conditions, treatments and High Cost Drugs) from a variety of sources including medical case notes, electronic discharge letters, Radiology Pathology and other clinical information systems.
• Responsible for managing own workload within broad guidelines. Have a joint goal with other coders to achieve coding targets. Assist colleagues with coding patient case notes if necessary, to ensure all coding is completed within the Trust’s stated deadlines. This may include mentoring less experienced colleagues.
• Produce all necessary reports regarding performance monitoring
• Present benchmarking analysis to the CMG’s and Clinical Coding Manager to identify areas of concern in the coded data and assisting in producing an action plan to address coding and clinical information issues.
• Be responsible for appraisals of all Band 4, 3 and 1 members of staff, developing personal development plans ensuring all training requirements are met.
• Assist in the recruitment process of short listing and interviewing together with the Clinical Coding Manager and Site Leads
• Deputise for the Site Leads and attend internal and external meetings as necessary.
• Develop and implement Trust Coding Policies and procedures in conjunction with senior medical staff

Person specification

Other requirements specific to the role

Essential criteria

NCCQ – Accredited Clinical Coder. Completed Refresher course in the last 3 years.
At least 3 years’ clinical coding experience coding multiple specialities within an NHS environment. In-depth knowledge of Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Terminology and ICD10 & OPCS4 classifications.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with staff at all levels. Ability to effectively explain complex coding rules and guidelines to a professional audience. Ability to deliver presentations.
Ability to use own judgement to interpret & summarise relevant clinical terminology used for diagnostic & procedural information.
Ability to work with prolonged concentration using electronic systems when coding patients.
Highly self-motivated. Ability to organise staff, delivering good service and reaching all deadlines under pressure. Assignment of relevant classification codes applying national rules & conventions. Must be able to recognise and act upon possible problems. Ability to inspire & enthuse others.
Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
Accuracy / attention to detail. Ability to learn quickly. Completer / finisher. Must be able to work on any site.

Desirable criteria

Management qualification or completion of leadership programme. Degree level in a Healthcare related subject or equivalent knowledge gained through experience.
NHS Appraisal experience or completion of NHS Appraisal training Familiar with using an encoder. Experience of training other staff in the complexities of coding.

Training & Qualifications

Essential criteria

At least 3 years’ clinical coding experience coding multiple specialities within an NHS environment. In-depth knowledge of Anatomy & Physiology, Medical Terminology and ICD10 & OPCS4 classifications.

Experience

Essential criteria

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to communicate with staff at all levels. Ability to effectively explain complex coding rules and guidelines to a professional audience. Ability to deliver presentations.

Additional Information

Please submit your application form without delay to avoid disappointment; we will close vacancies prior to the publishing closing date if we receive a sufficient number of completed application forms.

Please check the email account (including your junk mail) that you supplied as part of your application on a regular basis following the closing date and throughout the recruitment process, as this is how we will communicate with you.

UHL is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds who match our job criteria.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.

UHL is committed to helping colleagues balance the demands of both their work and personal needs through flexible working arrangements wherever reasonably practicable and subject to service needs.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Please note if you are successful in obtaining this position and the post involves regulated activity you will be required to undertake a Disclosure & Barring Service check.

The Trust will pay for the check initially and the money will then be deducted from your salary over a three month period commencing on your first month's payment.

The current price of a check is £38 for an enhanced and £18 for a standard check.

COVID 19 Risk Assessment

Due to the current Covid pandemic we have introduced a staff risk assessment into our pre-employment process. This now forms part of the mandatory pre-employment checks that will be carried out if you receive a conditional offer.

The risk assessment is intended to ensure you are able to safely perform your duties in any of our work areas, and if you have been identified as being particularly vulnerable to coronavirus. Our main aim is to reduce risk and to ensure the safety of all new starters to the Trust as well as current staff, patients and visitors.

If it is identified that you are within a vulnerable category, we will endeavor to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate this through discussions with both Occupational Health and your recruiting manager.

Covid Vaccination Status

Covid-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, family, colleagues and our patients/service users from the Covid-19 virus. We therefore continue to encourage our current and potential colleagues to get vaccinated.

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust holds the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything it does and all that it stands for. We are committed to developing a workforce that is representative of the community we serve. We welcome applications from the diverse community of Leicester, Leicester and Rutland, to help deliver healthcare services that meets the needs of our diverse communities.