Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Coding Divisional Lead
The closing date is 26 April 2026
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 Trust's services are provided from three locations:
* Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
* Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
* Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery.
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 or 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.
If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?
The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.
If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service. Applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.
New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules.
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