About this role
Job summary Are you an experienced Clinical Coder looking to take the next step in your career? At University Hospitals Dorset, we are building a modern Clinical Coding service that recognises both formal accreditation and demonstrable expertise. We are committed to creating inclusive, competency-based career pathways that value experience, capability, and professional judgement. This role offers an opportunity to work across a wide range of specialties, including real-time coding within clinical environments such as wards, theatres and multidisciplinary team meetings.
We recognise that expertise in clinical coding is gained through both formal accreditation and practical experience. Therefore, applications for the Senior Clinical Coder role may be made via either the accredited route or the competency-based route. Please refer to the relevant Job Descriptions for further information.
For further insight into thisrole, 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. Base Location: University Hospitals Dorset with cross site and hybrid working Interview Date: TBC
Main duties of the job
As a Bank Expert Clinical Coder, you will:
Deliver high-quality, accurate, and timely coding across all specialties
Work within clinical environments (wards, theatres, MDTs) to support real-time data capture
Code complex, long-stay, high risk and mortality cases
Support audit, data quality improvement, and validation activity
Act as a mentor and role model for developing coders
Sustain an accuracy score of >=95% across all specialities
Demonstrate an extensive expert-level of clinical coding experience across the full range of specialities
As a Bank Senior Clinical Coder, you will: Deliver high-quality, accurate, and timely coding across all specialties Work within clinical environments (wards, theatres, MDTs) to support real-time data capture Code complex and mortality cases Support audit, data quality improvement, and validation activity Act as a mentor and role model for developing coders ? Accredited Route NCCQ Accredited Clinical Coder (ACC) ? Competency-Based Route Demonstrable, well-evidenced coding portfolio showing: Sustained coding accuracy (typically >=90%) Breadth of specialty experience Strong clinical knowledge and interpretation skills Evidence of complex case handling Contribution to mentoring, audit, or service improvement Sound professional judgement in coding decisions
About us
Why join us?
Be part of a service that values expertise, not just qualifications
Access a structured pathway e.g toward Auditor or Trainer
Gain experience in clinically integrated coding models
Work in a supportive environment focused on development and progression
Contribute to a forward-thinking service preparing for ICD-11 and AI-enabled coding
Our approach
We are committed to:
Fair and inclusive progression routes
Recognising diverse pathways into expertise
Maintaining high standards through robust competency assessment
Supporting staff to achieve accreditation alongside career progression
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.
If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.
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.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please refer to the Expert Clinical Coder and Senior Clinical Coder Job Descriptions and Person Specifications for full details of the duties, responsibilities, and requirements associated with these roles.
Person Specification
Qualifications (Expert) Essential
NCCQ Clinical Coding Qualification (ACC status)
Experience (Expert) Essential
. A minimum of three years post-ACC clinical coding experience . Sustained coding audit accuracy of >=95% across all specialities . Extensive expert clinical coding experience across the full range of trust specialities . Experience of direct clinical engagement . Experience of leading or contributing to financial and quality assurance activity
Desirable
. Experience of contributing to mortality coding assurance or review processes . Experience contributing to local coding policy development or service improvement initiatives . Experience of providing structured training, mentoring, coaching or specialist support . Experience of direct clinical engagement at senior level eg consultant, surgeon
Technical Skills Competencies (Expert) Essential
. Ability to assign accurate codes using ICD-10 and OPCS 4 inline with NCCS . Ability to validate coded date for completeness and accuracy . Competent use of clinical record systems (e.g., EPR, PAS, electronic document management systems) to review records and update coding or administrative data . Strong workload prioritisation, decision making and independent professional judgement . Ability to design and deliver specialist clinical coding training and mentoring for coding staff
Desirable
. Experience supporting or evaluating automation, digital, or AI assisted clinical coding tools . Familiarity with benchmarking or assurance platforms eg HED . Experience contributing to workforce competency frameworks or structured development pathways
Personal attributes (Expert) Essential
. Proactive, solutions-focused approach to identifying and addressing coding documentation or data quality . Commitment to continuous professional development, reflective practice and maintaining expert level competence . Strong professional integrity, discretion and respect for confidentiality
Desirable
. Demonstrate interest in service improvement innovation, or digital transformation within a clinical coding or data quality improvement . Willingness to support the development of others through coaching, mentoring or specialist education delivery
Qualifications (Senior) Essential
NCCQ Clinical Coding Qualification (ACC status) or Evidence of equivalent competency portfolio route or Evidence of continued professional development in clinical coding
Desirable
Coding audit or mentorship training
Experience (Senior) Essential
A minimum of 3 years' coding experience - (used as a baseline indicator of sustained exposure only not a stand-alone qualifying metric). Proven experience resolving clinical queries and clarifying complex or ambiguous documentation Sustained coding accuracy of >=90% across all specialties Evidence of meeting productivity, timeliness, and service KPIs Extensive clinical coding experience across a wide range of specialties in an acute NHS environment, with demonstrable ability to code complex case types
Desirable
Experience coding mortality cases or other high-complexity, high-impact specialties Familiarity with multi-site, cross-specialty coding rotation models
Skills (Senior) Essential
Ability to validate coded data for completeness and accuracy Competent use of clinical record systems (e.g., EPR, PAS, electronic document management systems) to review records and update coding or administrative data
Knowledge (Senior) Essential
National Clinical Coding Standards and NHS Digital classification updates Confidentiality, Information Governance, Data Protection, and Caldicott principles
Desirable
Understanding of Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) principles
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.
Employer details Employer name University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Address University Hospitals Dorset NHSFT
Poole/Bournemouth
BH152JB
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)