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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

About the team and department 

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.