Job summary The West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is seeking to recruit accomplished Accredited Clinical Coders to join their Clinical Coding team. The Trust are looking for committed and experienced Clinical Coders with excellent communication skills and expertise in the role as an Accredited Clinical Coder. The department offers comprehensive training for all coders with help developing existing skills and learning new ones. The department has an established internal Clinical Coding Audit Program. R&R is established dependent on increment level. Hybrid working can be discussed at interview Main duties of the job The post holder will have responsibility for the coding of all speciality based patient admissions, by abstracting clinical data from electronic patient records and translating it into diagnostic (ICD10) and procedure (OPCS4) coding classifications. Applicants will be eager to work with good organisational skills, be able to work well under pressure and prioritise their own workload. A first-class knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy and physiology is essential along with the ability to demonstrate competence in the use of ICD10 and OPCS4 classifications. The application of clinical coding standards across specialities is a prerequisite. Coders should have completed National Clinical Coding Refresher Course within the past two years. About us BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings. The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500 beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge. Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital. We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team. With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be. We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can BeKnown for whoever you are. Join us. What will you BeKnown for?c Date posted 05 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 5 Salary £29,970 to £36,483 a year All hours of work per week considered Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working Reference number 179-6766062-C-B Job locations West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Hardwick Lane Bury St Edmunds IP33 2QZ Job description Job responsibilities Job summary To accurately extract relevant clinical information from the Patient Health Care Record and to assign appropriate codes following established National Coding Guideline To interface with clinicians, healthcare workers, and other relevant personnel in order to ensure coding accuracy and integrity are maintained at the highest level To mentor and support all junior staff Job responsibilities Communication and Team Working To seek guidance from Trust clinicians to address coding issues and discrepancies related to their specific specialities Assign correlation of data from electronic patient record to 3M Medicode software for data, service improvement and HRG gathering To promote among clinicians, health care workers and any other associated outside agency, awareness of the Clinical Coding role and its uses within the trust to raise the stature of Clinical Coding as the essence of professionalism Facilitate improved communication within the department and between other departments, clinicians, managers, ward staff and other personnel To interface with other Trusts, offices, and personnel in seeking ways, means, and ideas to improve the coding office processes Planning and Organising To assist the Team Manager in maintaining departmental performance with regard to quality and quantity by upholding agreed standards To assist the Team Manager in work allocation, supervision and planning tasks to all members of staff Monitor own performance against previously agreed objectives To support the team ensuring monthly targets are met Organise own day to day work task, completing priority coding foremost Operate own workload day to day Managing People and Resources To take personal responsibility to ensure the correct usage of all resources provided to perform assigned tasks Assist the Team Manager in monitoring performance of junior members of staff To identify and participate in any cost improvement measures as required Training and Teaching To seek and attend in-house training, workshops, formal training, open discussions, and briefing from various expert sources in order to maintain coding proficiency To seek knowledge and experience levels required to maintain national Accredited Clinical Coder (ACC) status To be responsible for attaining and maintaining proficiency levels necessary to sustain coding data accuracy and integrity Attain and maintain proficiency levels in all tasks within the coding office and perform these duties as required Mentor junior members of staff in speciality coding Mentor junior members of staff in coding direction and assistance Assist the Team Manager in the training and development of junior members of staff as required To maintain IT knowledge and 3M knowledge To maintain medical terminology and coding conventions and to increase skill in long term development Policy, Service, Research Development Participate in audit and monitoring of standards To participate in the development of an evidenced-based and patient focused service To be responsible for increasing their own professional research knowledge by promoting a questioning and analytical approach to coding Adhere to local coding office Policies and Procedures, conforming to National Standards as established by the Clinical Coding Team Manager Ensure correct procedures are adhered to relating to telephone calls into department and take appropriate action as necessary To work within an overall framework of Clinical Governance To support the Team Manager in the implementation of Trust Policies such as Risk Assessment and Incident Reporting management Comply with patient confidentiality and GDPR at all times Implement agreed Local Polices and Clinical Coding Guidelines, update training materials when changes require Administration To attend discussions, meetings, and functions that have a direct bearing on the clinical coding process, as required. Ensuring coding processes are not compromised Develop knowledge of the correct procedures and use of the Individual Performance Review (IPR) system To uphold highest levels of efficiency relating to the correct usage of the eCare, 3M Medicode, ICE, Evolve and any other data storage systems required to maintain standards Frequent prolonged effort for workload on a computer Frequent indirect exposure to emotional circumstances Constant requirement for prolonged concentration and sitting for long periods at workstation. Health, Safety and Security Use and encourage others to be familiar with the personal security systems within the workplace, according to practice guidelines To initiate the emergency alarm when required if assistance is required for staff and patient safety Identify the risks involved in work activities and undertake them in a way that minimises risks Work in line with Health and Safety policies and procedures within the workplace Uses the trust incident reporting system to report any issues that may affect the working environment. Personal Development/Clinical & Professional To at all times strive to use correctly the following guidelines: International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) and Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS-4) within the Trust Maintain National Standards established by the NHS Digital National Clinical Coding Standard Reference books To support the Trust in complying with National Standards, for example CNST, Controls Assurance and National Clinical Coding Standards Judgement for all complex training factors in presentation and feedback scenarios To process and codify patients medical records and any other relevant documentation Job description Job responsibilities Job summary To accurately extract relevant clinical information from the Patient Health Care Record and to assign appropriate codes following established National Coding Guideline To interface with clinicians, healthcare workers, and other relevant personnel in order to ensure coding accuracy and integrity are maintained at the highest level To mentor and support all junior staff Job responsibilities Communication and Team Working To seek guidance from Trust clinicians to address coding issues and discrepancies related to their specific specialities Assign correlation of data from electronic patient record to 3M Medicode software for data, service improvement and HRG gathering To promote among clinicians, health care workers and any other associated outside agency, awareness of the Clinical Coding role and its uses within the trust to raise the stature of Clinical Coding as the essence of professionalism Facilitate improved communication within the department and between other departments, clinicians, managers, ward staff and other personnel To interface with other Trusts, offices, and personnel in seeking ways, means, and ideas to improve the coding office processes Planning and Organising To assist the Team Manager in maintaining departmental performance with regard to quality and quantity by upholding agreed standards To assist the Team Manager in work allocation, supervision and planning tasks to all members of staff Monitor own performance against previously agreed objectives To support the team ensuring monthly targets are met Organise own day to day work task, completing priority coding foremost Operate own workload day to day Managing People and Resources To take personal responsibility to ensure the correct usage of all resources provided to perform assigned tasks Assist the Team Manager in monitoring performance of junior members of staff To identify and participate in any cost improvement measures as required Training and Teaching To seek and attend in-house training, workshops, formal training, open discussions, and briefing from various expert sources in order to maintain coding proficiency To seek knowledge and experience levels required to maintain national Accredited Clinical Coder (ACC) status To be responsible for attaining and maintaining proficiency levels necessary to sustain coding data accuracy and integrity Attain and maintain proficiency levels in all tasks within the coding office and perform these duties as required Mentor junior members of staff in speciality coding Mentor junior members of staff in coding direction and assistance Assist the Team Manager in the training and development of junior members of staff as required To maintain IT knowledge and 3M knowledge To maintain medical terminology and coding conventions and to increase skill in long term development Policy, Service, Research Development Participate in audit and monitoring of standards To participate in the development of an evidenced-based and patient focused service To be responsible for increasing their own professional research knowledge by promoting a questioning and analytical approach to coding Adhere to local coding office Policies and Procedures, conforming to National Standards as established by the Clinical Coding Team Manager Ensure correct procedures are adhered to relating to telephone calls into department and take appropriate action as necessary To work within an overall framework of Clinical Governance To support the Team Manager in the implementation of Trust Policies such as Risk Assessment and Incident Reporting management Comply with patient confidentiality and GDPR at all times Implement agreed Local Polices and Clinical Coding Guidelines, update training materials when changes require Administration To attend discussions, meetings, and functions that have a direct bearing on the clinical coding process, as required. Ensuring coding processes are not compromised Develop knowledge of the correct procedures and use of the Individual Performance Review (IPR) system To uphold highest levels of efficiency relating to the correct usage of the eCare, 3M Medicode, ICE, Evolve and any other data storage systems required to maintain standards Frequent prolonged effort for workload on a computer Frequent indirect exposure to emotional circumstances Constant requirement for prolonged concentration and sitting for long periods at workstation. Health, Safety and Security Use and encourage others to be familiar with the personal security systems within the workplace, according to practice guidelines To initiate the emergency alarm when required if assistance is required for staff and patient safety Identify the risks involved in work activities and undertake them in a way that minimises risks Work in line with Health and Safety policies and procedures within the workplace Uses the trust incident reporting system to report any issues that may affect the working environment. Personal Development/Clinical & Professional To at all times strive to use correctly the following guidelines: International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) and Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS-4) within the Trust Maintain National Standards established by the NHS Digital National Clinical Coding Standard Reference books To support the Trust in complying with National Standards, for example CNST, Controls Assurance and National Clinical Coding Standards Judgement for all complex training factors in presentation and feedback scenarios To process and codify patients medical records and any other relevant documentation Person Specification Education & Qualification Essential Accredited Clinical Coder (ACC) Good general education (Degree level or equivalent) Anatomy, Biology, Physiology Certificate in Medical Terminology Clinical Coding Standards Course Experience & Kowledge Essential Minimum 2 years NHS experience Refresher course in past 3 years Experience in Team environment Clerical experience Awareness of patient confidentiality and GDPR Working knowledge of an electronic patient record system Working knowledge of Medicode encoder/other encoder Wide speciality coding Desirable Working with the public Skills & Abilities Essential Good interpersonal and communication skills Ability to work calmly in a busy environment Evidence of supporting junior staff Good IT skills Time management skills Polite and efficient manner Group working skills Ability to analyse Able to maintain levels of high concentration Personal Qualities Essential Supportive of others and is a team player Motivated Flexible approach to working hours/duties Has an eye for attention to detail Analytical Person Specification Education & Qualification Essential Accredited Clinical Coder (ACC) Good general education (Degree level or equivalent) Anatomy, Biology, Physiology Certificate in Medical Terminology Clinical Coding Standards Course Experience & Kowledge Essential Minimum 2 years NHS experience Refresher course in past 3 years Experience in Team environment Clerical experience Awareness of patient confidentiality and GDPR Working knowledge of an electronic patient record system Working knowledge of Medicode encoder/other encoder Wide speciality coding Desirable Working with the public Skills & Abilities Essential Good interpersonal and communication skills Ability to work calmly in a busy environment Evidence of supporting junior staff Good IT skills Time management skills Polite and efficient manner Group working skills Ability to analyse Able to maintain levels of high concentration Personal Qualities Essential Supportive of others and is a team player Motivated Flexible approach to working hours/duties Has an eye for attention to detail Analytical Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Employer details Employer name West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust Address West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Hardwick Lane Bury St Edmunds IP33 2QZ Employer's website https://www.wsh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)