About this role
Job summary
We are seeking an experienced Clinical Coding Lead to oversee the strategy, planning, and delivery of high-quality clinical coding services across the organisation. This role ensures compliance with national standards (ICD and OPCS) and supports accurate patient data, performance reporting, and financial flows.
You will lead an operational team of experienced managers and coders, driving excellence, continuous improvement, and professional development. You will also have accountability for the training and improvement function within the service. Responsibilities include overseeing complex coding, leading audit and quality assurance programmes, and ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timeliness. You will also support service development, including the adoption of new technologies and AI.
Working with clinicians, operational teams, and information stakeholders, you will provide expert guidance, resolve complex queries, and improve clinical documentation and data quality. You will analyse audit findings, identify trends, and implement targeted improvements, while supporting governance and compliance with audit requirements.
The ideal candidate must be an accredited clinical coder with strong leadership skills and experience, attention to detail, and a passion for data quality and improvement. Experience in automation or AI adoption is highly desirable.
Main duties of the job
Reporting directly to the Director of Business Intelligence (CDO), the Clinical Coding Lead is responsible for the strategy and operational delivery of Clinical Coding services to ensure the Group achieves its clinical and business objectives. The post holder will be responsible for ensuring accurate and timely coding of all admitted patient activity and providing subject matter expertise and leadership in support of clinical coding in other settings, such as outpatients.
The post holder will be expected to work with a high degree of professional confidence and autonomy and be an integral part of the leadership and management of the Business Intelligence portfolio. The post holder will be expected to identify and advance ways in which the Group can better collect and utilise clinical information to meet its objectives and develop its business, and will be required to lead on Group-wide or function-wide projects and initiatives as directed.
Information generated by this department is crucial to the national performance ratings and financial well-being of the Group, and the role takes full responsibility for the training, audit, and development activities within the Clinical Coding department.
About us
The Bristol NHS Foundation Trust will bring together North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust to enable closer collaboration and improved outcomes for patients across the region. Through a shared vision and joint clinical and digital strategies, the organisation is working towards more integrated,efficientandpatient-centredservices.
Digital transformation is a critical enabler of this ambition, supporting large-scale service change, clinical pathwayredesignand improved operational performance across the Group.You will work at the forefront of strategic decision-making and investment planning, ensuring that digital programmes deliver meaningful, measurable benefits for patients, staff and the wider health system.
This is an opportunity to play a leading role in shaping how digital transformation is delivered across a major NHS Trust.
Job description Job responsibilities
For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.
Person Specification
Training, Knowledge and Experience Essential
Training, Knowledge and Experience
Desirable
Training, Knowledge and Experience
Communication Skills Essential
Communication Skills
Analytical Skills Essential
Analytical Skills
Planning Skills Essential
Planning Skills
Management Skills Essential
Management Skills
Aptitudes Essential
Aptitudes
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name North Bristol NHS Trust
Address Digital HQ
40 Southwell Street
Bristol
BS2 8EJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.nbt.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)