Trainee Clinical Coder

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Clinical Coding team as a Trainee Clinical Coder. This is a post for someone who wants to build a career translating clinical information into the coded data that underpins patient care, service planning and Trust income.

You will follow a structured training programme combining national and local training, supervised practice and competency-based progression, working towards passing the Clinical Coding Standards Course. You will learn to abstract, analyse and translate clinical documentation into ICD-10 and OPCS-4 codes, working within designated training specialties under close supervision from other coders and the training leads.

No previous coding experience is needed. We're looking for someone with 5 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above (including Maths, English and Biology or Combined Science), accurate computer and data-entry skills, a strong eye for detail, and the commitment to study towards a professional qualification. Experience in an NHS or healthcare setting is welcome but not essential.

You'll need to attend the department full-time until assessed as competent to work independently, after which hybrid working is available. Initially, you will also be required to assist with the location of case notes for coding and other clerical work.

In return, you'll join a supportive, values-driven team that invests in its people, with a clear development pathway from trainee through to qualified experienced coder.

Main duties of the job

Working under close supervision, you will:

• Undertake supervised clinical coding of inpatient and day-case activity within designated trainee specialties, following national standards and local instructions.
• Learn to abstract, analyse and translate clinical information from patient documentation, applying ICD-10, OPCS-4, sequencing rules and national conventions with guidance. This involves 25 days classroom based training.
• Retrieve missing clinical information such as notes, reports and test results as directed.
• Escalate all unclear, incomplete or ambiguous documentation, and any coding query beyond your current competence, to supervising staff.
• Submit all coded work for checking and validation, responding positively to feedback and acting on any errors identified.
• Use EPR, PAS, ICE and other systems safely at trainee level, reporting technical issues to senior colleagues.
• Handle patient information securely and confidentially in line with GDPR, Caldicott, DSPT and Trust information governance policies.Follow the departmental training plan, attending supervised coding sessions, team meetings and learning activities, and working through competency requirements towards becoming an accredited clinical coder.
• Maintain clear working notes, coding examples and development logs for review.

Please note that all coded work is checked until you are formally signed off in a specialty; this post does not code independently.

About us

We have a long and proud history of caring for generations of local people and can trace our roots all the way back to 1814 with the first hospital in Bolton - the Bolton Dispensary in the town centre.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust was formed in 2008 and, in 2011, we became an integrated provider with community health services joining the trust. Covering a catchment area that also incorporates parts of Bury, Wigan and Salford, we deliver hospital and community based services from the Royal Bolton Hospital in Farnworth and from 20 health centres across Bolton, to a catchment population of 310,000+ people.

The Royal Bolton Hospital is a major hub within Greater Manchester for women's and children's services and is the busiest single ambulance-receiving site in Greater Manchester. We're structured in four clinical divisions - Community Services, Families and Diagnostics, Medicine, and Surgery and are led by a Board of Directors. As an NHS Foundation Trust we're accountable to our members and have a Council of Governors to represent the views of patients, public, staff and partners.

Buildings, names and models of care have changed over the centuries, but one thing has remained constant and is prevalent among our 6,718 staff members: the enduring commitment to providing the best health and care for the people of Bolton.

Job responsibilities

A Trainee Clinical Coder is an entry-level member of the Clinical Coding team, learning the foundational knowledge and skills required to become an independently competent Clinical Coder. The post holder will follow a structured training programme of national and local training, supervised practice and competency-based progression, building towards the National Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ) at Band 4 in line with departmental expectations.

Please refer to the job description and person specification for further information on the role

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• 5 GCSEs at grade 4/C or above, including Maths, English, and Biology (or Combined Science).

Desirable

• Medical terminology qualification (e.g., AMSPAR).

Experience

Essential

• Experience using computers and data entry with accuracy.
• Experience working in a role requiring attention to detail.

Desirable

• Experience working in an NHS or healthcare environment.
• Experience using clinical or patient administration systems.

Skills

Essential

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work within a team and follow instruction.
• Good organisational skills and ability to prioritise when directed.
• Ability to meet the academic demands of national coding training.

Knowledge

Essential

• Basic understanding of clinical coding and what the role involves.
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection.

Desirable

• Awareness of NHS terminology or healthcare environments.