Trainee Clinical Coder​/Clinical Coder

This trainee clinical coding post sits in the clinical coding service at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, coding inpatient and day-case episodes from all specialties. The work turns patient records into ICD
10 and OPCS4 codes accurately and on time, and involves checking unclear entries with clinical teams. Training is office-based and runs through the NHS England Clinical Coding Standards Course, with home or remote working listed as an option. Post-holders may be asked to work across sites in University Hospitals Tees.

• Abstract clinical information from case notes and electronic systems into ICD
  10 and OPCS4 codes, accurately and on time
• Liaise with wards and departments to view source documents, collect discharge summaries and chase outstanding data
• Verify recorded data with clinicians regularly and help them understand the coding process
• Resolve coding queries, escalating to the Manager or Deputy Manager where needed
• Complete office-based coding training and the NHS England Clinical Coding Standards Course to reach proficiency
• Plan and prioritise own workload to meet performance and quality targets
• Attend coding and data-quality meetings and take part in departmental discussions
• Highlight administrative coding discrepancies, such as clinician or method of admission
• Contribute to improving accuracy and completeness of admitted-care coding
• Keep up to date with national coding guidance and widen knowledge across clinical specialties
• Cover colleagues' workload during periods of absence
• Apply statutory and local rules on disclosure and safe keeping of information, including Data Protection and Caldicott

• GCSE level or equivalent, including Maths and English

• Understanding of a health record or previous health records experience
• Experience of administrative processes
• Ability to work as part of a team

• Understanding of uses of clinical coded data in the NHS
• Understanding of confidentiality, data security and Caldicott
• Ability to organise own workload and work to Trust deadlines
• Excellent attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, written and verbal

• Flexible approach to work and ability to prioritise workload
• Friendly and able to interact with colleagues
• Professional appearance

• Basic computer course, such as ECDL
• Certificate in Anatomy and Physiology
• Medical terminology qualification
• Previous experience using Patient Administration Systems
• Previous experience using encoders
• Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology
• Keen to learn and enthusiastic to progress

• Health and wellbeing initiatives
• Staff benefits
• Opportunities for personal and professional development
• Home or remote working
• Flexible working
• Compressed hours