Clinical Coding Divisional Lead

Clinical Coding Divisional Lead

The closing date is 17 September 2025

The post holder will report to the Clinical Coding and Data Governance Manager and will be responsible for providing clinical divisions with a high quality, comprehensive clinical coding service.

This post has a Recruitment and Retention Premium (RRP) payment of £1500 per annum which is paid in monthly instalments. The RRP payment will be reviewed on an annual basis.

Work closely with the Division and advise on data recording practices to ensure clinical coding accurately reflects care delivered. To act as the lead contact with the designated Division and associated specialties, working with both clinical and operational managers to resolve coding queries, and communicate complex coding rules and standards to ensure accuracy and consistency of information

Abstract, analyse, translate and data entry of complex medical patient care records into diagnostic and procedural coding in an accurate and timely manner adhering to the Trust deadlines

Main duties of the job

• Liaison between divisional clinicians and management teams for all coding related queries.
• Proactively develop and provide regular reports for each division's clinical coding data, including but not limited to income, clinical coding accuracy, benchmarking and consultant validation.
• Work with each division to provide better access to the clinical coding department and drive forward improvements in the Trust's clinical coding data, in terms of accuracy and depth of coding.
• Develop a strong clinical coding presence within the organisation, to ensure constant engagement with the Trust's clinical divisions to continuously drive improvements within clinical coding.
• Ensure each divisional clinical coding team has experienced, accurate and high performing clinical coders, to ensure maximum quality and required outputs are maintained by the department.
• Act as the Divisional expert and lead on all coding issues using, the clinical coding classifications and the implementation of these on Trust systems.
• Create and maintain a strong working relationship with all key stakeholders including Divisional Managers, Clinicians, Heads of Nursing and operational staff within the organisation.
• To hold and develop an excellent working knowledge of local and national clinical coding payment systems, with the ability to relay highly complex information effectively to a wide range of clinical and hospital staff groups.

About us

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provides services to West Cheshire and to Welsh patients covered by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Its services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 438 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 56 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Trust employs over 5916 staff (headcount) which includes temporary bank staff and provides acute emergency and elective services, primary care direct access services and obstetric services to a population of approximately 411,000. This includes 361,000 residents in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire which has a population of approximately 50,000.

Job responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Degree level or equivalent experience in clinical coding, within an acute hospital setting
• National Clinical Coder Qualification (NCCQ)
• Clinical Coder Refresher Status is current
• NHS Digital approved clinical coding auditor ort trainer qualification or working towards

Knowledge and Experience

• Substantial clinical coding experience in an acute NHS Trust post ACC qualification
• Experience of assigning ICD-10 and OPCS-4 codes in a wide range of specialties
• Ability to relay highly complex information effectively to a wide range of clinical and non-clinical staff groups
• Experience in managing change

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.

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust