Clinical Coding Team Lead

at  Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

Would you like to join our Clinical Coding team as a Band 6 Clinical Coding Team Lead incl. 11.25 % Recruitment & Retainment (R&R) premium*?
Read on to learn more about this rewarding role and submit your application.
The Clinical Coding service is a part of the Digital Division of the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group (UHN) and is responsible for extracting and codifying complex clinical information that describes a patient’s diagnostic and procedural healthcare status within an episode of care in a timely manner.
The ability of the UHN Group to accurately record and codify its clinical activity is fundamental to understanding the quality of its clinical services. Our coded data is used by all parts of the Group’s business to deliver trusted and high-quality services to patients.
Clinical Coding Team Leads are a core component of the Clinical Coding service and have a crucial supporting role in the overall management of the Group as their output and the output of their coding team directly influences income through the NHS Payment Scheme.
As a Clinical Coding Team Lead you will be responsible for leading a team of Associate Clinical Coders, Clinical Coders and Accredited Clinical Coders to codify in a timely manner complex clinical activity according to all relevant National Clinical Coding Standards and Local Clinical Coding Policies.
You will work collaboratively with colleagues within the Clinical Coding department and the Clinical Coding Operational Manager to ensure your coding team are supported professionally and achieve relevant Key
Performance Indicator (KPI) metrics via an ongoing process of positive performance management. With the support of Accredited Clinical Coders, you will lead your coding team to achieve the submission of codified data in a timely manner.
Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
Compassion
Accountability
Respect
Integrity
Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.
We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.

Main Duties

• Line manage and lead a team of coders to extract, analyse and codify complex clinical information describing a patient’s diagnostic and procedural healthcare status within an episode of care using ICD-10 and OPCS-4 classifications.
• Ensure a team’s codified data is of high quality and accurate i.e., in line with all relevant National Clinical Coding Standards and Local Clinical Coding Policies.
• Ensure a team’s codified data is entered into the Patient Administration System (PAS) in a timely manner i.e., within defined local and national timescales.
• Act as a key responsible and capable point of contact for other disciplines of staff who are necessary to the successful completion of accurate clinical coding i.e., clinicians.
• Provide leadership and line management, creating the environment for happy, motivated, engaged and a highly performing team.
• Liaise with Health Intelligence colleagues to ensure high standards of data quality of various data items e.g., consultant, speciality, date of admission is achieved as evidenced by quality metrics such as the Data Quality Maturity Index (DQMI).
• Understand and adhere to the department’s Clinical Coding Policy/Procedure document.
• With the support of the Clinical Coding Operational Manager skilfully plan and organise ongoing operational planning and team delivery. Organise and oversee the efficient running of a team i.e., the submission of codified data against defined local and national timescales and the adherence of a team to capability and training requirements.
• Liaise with the Clinical Coding Quality Assurance function to ensure the successful implementation of quality improvement initiatives within the Clinical Coding function.
• Support the Group in transformation and cost-improvement programmes that involve coded data as a mechanism for financial gains by critically examining working practices within the department to identify cost improvements and effective measures, develop and implement action plans.
• Contribute to the successful recruitment and selection process for new staff.Digital Transformation and Innovation
• Advise and provide support with change management requirements associated with the introduction and development of an EPR.
• Challenge existing practices, ensuring that progressive solutions, which consider models of best practice, are incorporated into service plans.
• With the support of the Head of Clinical Coding and Deputy Head of Clinical Coding develop and implement an Agile working methodology as suitable across the Clinical Coding function.

Management and Leadership

• Have a highly developed specialist knowledge of Clinical Coding that is underpinned by practical experience and theoretical knowledge.
• Provide strong, clear, motivational and visible leadership.
• Create a highly-motivated and happy working environment that fosters autonomy, mastery and purpose.
• Drive through the delivery of ambitious targets to continually improve performance within the service area.
• As a member of the Clinical Coding leadership team collaborate closely with other leading colleagues to support the efficient functioning of the Clinical Coding department.

Partnership Working

• Develop partnerships with clinical staff in collaboration with the Medical Director’s office in the appropriate use of medical terminology in the patient’s health record to facilitate accurate coding.

Communication and Relationships

• Use well developed persuasive, motivational, negotiating, influencing empathetic and / or reassurance skills especially when required to overcome significant barriers to acceptance, thus drawing on the highest level of interpersonal communication skills.
• Presenting to various key stakeholders on complex Clinical Coding issues.

Professional and Personal Development

• Successfully complete a Clinical Coding Standards Refresher course every 3 years.
• Develop and/or maintain an in-depth knowledge and expertise of clinical coding across all specialties as evidenced by owning and maintaining nationally recognised Accredited Clinical Coder status.
• Develop and/or maintain a reasonable Digital skills capability including proficient use of the encoder software, PAS and Microsoft Office 365.
• The post holder will take joint responsibility for their own professional development, identifying training and educational needs and agreeing ways of addressing these with their line manager at regular 121 meetings and appraisals.

Role Requirements

• We support distributed and flexible working arrangements, however, subject to business needs, there may be a requirement to travel between the Kettering and Northampton Hospital sites and other sites across the Group.
• Office conditions, with an occasional requirement to travel between sites in this role (for example, to support go lives of projects or an unforeseen level of absence at one site, support training or onboarding of new starters, team workshops etc).
• Frequent VDU use is required for this post for extended periods throughout the day.
• Exposure to unpleasant working conditions or hazards is rare.
• Exposure to stressful/distressing patient circumstances as documented within their clinical record may be required.
• Have a strong focus on continually improving current practices and evidence the ability to challenge current ways of thinking with a view to ensure greater quality and depth of coding across the Group
• Successful applicants will hold a National Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ) and will therefore be awarded a 11.25 % R&R premium. This premium is paid monthly and is subject to annual review.

Main Duties

• Line manage and lead a team of coders to extract, analyse and codify complex clinical information describing a patient’s diagnostic and procedural healthcare status within an episode of care using ICD-10 and OPCS-4 classifications.
• Ensure a team’s codified data is of high quality and accurate i.e., in line with all relevant National Clinical Coding Standards and Local Clinical Coding Policies.
• Ensure a team’s codified data is entered into the Patient Administration System (PAS) in a timely manner i.e., within defined local and national timescales.
• Act as a key responsible and capable point of contact for other disciplines of staff who are necessary to the successful completion of accurate clinical coding i.e., clinicians.
• Provide leadership and line management, creating the environment for happy, motivated, engaged and a highly performing team.
• Liaise with Health Intelligence colleagues to ensure high standards of data quality of various data items e.g., consultant, speciality, date of admission is achieved as evidenced by quality metrics such as the Data Quality Maturity Index (DQMI).
• Understand and adhere to the department’s Clinical Coding Policy/Procedure document.
• With the support of the Clinical Coding Operational Manager skilfully plan and organise ongoing operational planning and team delivery. Organise and oversee the efficient running of a team i.e., the submission of codified data against defined local and national timescales and the adherence of a team to capability and training requirements.
• Liaise with the Clinical Coding Quality Assurance function to ensure the successful implementation of quality improvement initiatives within the Clinical Coding function.
• Support the Group in transformation and cost-improvement programmes that involve coded data as a mechanism for financial gains by critically examining working practices within the department to identify cost improvements and effective measures, develop and implement action plans.
• Contribute to the successful recruitment and selection process for new staff.Digital Transformation and Innovation
• Advise and provide support with change management requirements associated with the introduction and development of an EPR.
• Challenge existing practices, ensuring that progressive solutions, which consider models of best practice, are incorporated into service plans.
• With the support of the Head of Clinical Coding and Deputy Head of Clinical Coding develop and implement an Agile working methodology as suitable across the Clinical Coding function

Role Requirements

• We support distributed and flexible working arrangements, however, subject to business needs, there may be a requirement to travel between the Kettering and Northampton Hospital sites and other sites across the Group.
• Office conditions, with an occasional requirement to travel between sites in this role (for example, to support go lives of projects or an unforeseen level of absence at one site, support training or onboarding of new starters, team workshops etc).
• Frequent VDU use is required for this post for extended periods throughout the day.
• Exposure to unpleasant working conditions or hazards is rare.
• Exposure to stressful/distressing patient circumstances as documented within their clinical record may be required.
• Have a strong focus on continually improving current practices and evidence the ability to challenge current ways of thinking with a view to ensure greater quality and depth of coding across the Group
• Successful applicants will hold a National Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ) and will therefore be awarded a 11.25 % R&R premium. This premium is paid monthly and is subject to annual review