About this role
Job summary
This is an exceptional opportunity to join University Hospitals Dorset at a pivotal time in the development of our Clinical Coding and Health Information Management Service.
We are transforming Clinical Coding into a modern, clinically engaged and strategically important function, supported by strong executive sponsorship, investment and a clear vision for the future. As part of this transformation, we are expanding coding services, strengthening clinical engagement, developing new career pathways and exploring the adoption of AI support.
As Head of Clinical Coding Operations, you will provide senior operational leadership for the Trust's Clinical Coding Service, with responsibility for performance, quality, workforce leadership and service delivery across inpatient, outpatient and emergency department activity.
Working closely with clinicians, operational, finance and digital teams, you will drive improvements in clinical documentation and operational performance. You will lead a workforce, deliver sustainable service improvement and support the continued development of Clinical Coding within a wider Health Information Management model.
We are seeking an experienced, qualified Clinical Coding professional with a proven track record of leadership, service improvement and partnership working within complex healthcare organisations.
If you are looking for a role where you can influence strategy, lead change and make a lasting impact, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
As Head of Clinical Coding Operations, you will provide senior operational leadership for Clinical Coding services across University Hospitals Dorset, ensuring the delivery of accurate, timely and high-quality coded data that supports patient care, organisational performance and income assurance.
Key responsibilities include:
Leading the operational delivery of Clinical Coding services across inpatient, outpatient and emergency department activity. Managing and developing a high-performing workforce through effective leadership, workforce planning, performance management and staff development. Driving improvements in coding quality, productivity, timeliness and backlog reduction, ensuring compliance with national standards and local requirements. Working closely with clinicians, operational teams and corporate colleagues to improve clinical documentation and strengthen clinical engagement. Leading service transformation, including the expansion of outpatient and emergency department coding and the development of Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) approaches. Supporting coding assurance and quality improvement in partnership with the Health Information Management Data Assurance team. Supporting digital innovation and the safe adoption of AI-enabled technologies while ensuring readiness for future national developments, including ICD-11
About us
The Health Information Management Service at University Hospitals Dorset brings together Clinical Coding, Data Quality and wider information management functions within a single service, creating opportunities for collaboration, innovation and professional development.
We are committed to creating a positive and supportive working environment where colleagues are encouraged to contribute ideas, challenge constructively and help shape service development. We place a strong emphasis on teamwork, visibility, professional standards and building effective relationships with clinicians and corporate colleagues.
As a senior leader within the service, you will work alongside an experienced management team helping to drive service improvement, strengthen clinical engagement and support the future development of Clinical Coding and Health Information Management services.
UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently.
Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.
UHD has active networks including Women's, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces.
We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.
AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
For further insight into this role, please view the recruitment brochure. If you are applying via Trac please click here Recruitment Brochure - Clinical Coding Department. If you are viewing via NHS Jobs, you can find the brochure under the Supporting Links section.
We are pleased to offer a £6,000 attraction incentive payment for this role, with full details confirmed in line with Trust processes.
Relocation expenses will be considered for this role in line with Trust policies and subject to internal review.
Base Location: University Hospitals Dorset with cross site and hybrid working
Interview Date: between 12 - 14 August 2026 confirmation of the date will be confirmed upon shortlisting
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
oNational Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ) oEvidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in clinical coding, education, or assurance.
Desirable
oClinical Coding Auditor or Trainer qualification. oPostgraduate qualification or formal training in leadership, management, or service improvement.
Experience Essential
oExtensive post-qualification experience in clinical coding within the NHS, covering inpatient activity and including exposure to outpatient oSignificant experience of operationally managing and leading a Clinical Coding service, including direct responsibility for senior staff or managers. oExperience of managing and deploying workforce resources to meet competing service demands. oExperience of mortality coding assurance or mortality review processes. oProven experience of working closely with senior clinicians, care group leadership, and corporate teams to address documentation quality, coding performance, and operational issues.
Desirable
oExperience of implementing or supporting digital (EPR) or AI-enabled solutions within clinical coding or health information management services. oExperience of working across multiple sites within a large or complex NHS organisation. oExperience of contributing to national benchmarking or improvement programmes (e.g. GIRFT, HED).
Skills Essential
oAdvanced operational understanding of national clinical coding standards and classifications (ICD-10, OPCS-4) oConfident user of clinical coding systems, encoder software, and operational performance dashboards. oAbility to oversee and assure coding quality, accuracy, and productivity across multiple coding domains. oHighly developed analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex performance, quality, and assurance data and translate insight into operational action.
Desirable
oAwareness of AI-enabled clinical coding tools and their workforce and training implications. oExperience of supporting coding quality improvement or optimisation initiatives. oExperience of using benchmarking or assurance outputs to drive service improvement. oAwareness of ICD-11 developments and implications for operational delivery.
Knowledge Essential
oExpert knowledge and application of ICD-10, OPCS-4, and National Clinical Coding Standards and datasets. oIn-depth understanding of the role of clinical coding within the NHS and its impact on patient safety, governance, reporting, benchmarking, and organisational assurance. oProven knowledge and understanding of the impact of clinical coding on the NHS financial regime, including financial flows, income assurance, and operational risk.
Desirable
oAwareness of national clinical coding development programmes and future classification changes. oAwareness of national benchmarking, mortality review, and assurance programmes (e.g. GIRFT, HED, mortality coding frameworks). oUnderstanding of ED/A&E coding requirements and standards
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 University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Address University Hospital Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Bournemouth / Poole
BH7 7DW
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)