Clinical Coder

We are looking to recruit a high calibre individual to be part of our clinical coding team.

An opportunity exists for an accredited clinical coder looking to advance their career within the profession.

Clinical coding is a high profile area of work as the data collected by the Team is essential for the effective management of the Trust and directly influences its income through Payment by Results and.

A relocation package may be offered for this position.

The colleague will be responsible for extracting clinical information from the Medical casenotes, either in paper format or increasingly from the electronic patient information system, and for translating diagnostic and procedural information into national ICD-10 and OPCS-4 codes.

The requirement is to produce consistent, accurate, complete and timely coded clinical data to facilitate managers and clinicians in the monitoring, planning and provision of high quality patient care.

Clinical codes are the source for Healthcare Resource Groups, which are used to determine NHS Reference costs and the basis for payment by results.

You will play a vital role in attracting the correct reimbursement for Trust activity

Our Clinical Coding team has a broad range of experience, and we have a supportive, professional and approachable culture.

Our team leaders provide guidance and mentoring to the team in all aspects of clinical coding and there is a strong focus on colleague wellbeing.

We have an Experienced Approved Clinical Coding Trainer and two Approved Clinical Coding Auditors in the team, meaning that full audit, validation and training support is available.

We offer flexible working, wellbeing sessions, socials, pastoral and professional support and training.

As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, fantastic pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, career progression and regular conversations, not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.

The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone’s throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.

There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. You will to experience the best of both in Somerset, the countryside and the cosmopolitan - there is truly something for everyone

Highlights (for full Job Description please see attached documents)
- To liaise with Trust staff in order to achieve the collection of complete and accurate data
- To liaise with and work closely with department colleagues to ensure that departmental objectives and targets are achieved
- Work closely with the Management team to ensure that the Service develops in line with both the needs of the Organisation and the National Requirements
- To take responsibility for own work
- Work efficiently both as an individual and as part of a team
- Achieve demanding monthly coding deadlines (and sometimes changing deadlines) while ensuring accuracy is maintained
- To share ideas for improvements to department procedures and policies
- Abstraction skills in relation to clinical classifications
- Ability to effectively research using the internet, journals, papers
- Use judgement and experience to critically analyse the range of complex clinical information required to assign diagnostic and procedural codes in accordance with National Standards and local policies
- Assist Clinical Coders with workload and queries
- Must have taken the National Clinical Coding Qualification and achieved Accredited Clinical Coder (ACC) status
- To review and correct where appropriate, incorrect and/or inconsistent data items
- To suggest improvements to local policy where appropriate
- To maintain and develop practical coding skills and theoretical knowledge relating to the use of the encoding classifications. This will require a range of formal internal and external specialist training