Trainee Clinical Coder

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for highly motivated individuals to join a friendly team committed to providing a high-quality clinical coding service to the Trust. As a trainee clinical coder, you will receive all relevant training required.

Sheffield is large teaching hospital, and you will have the opportunity to code a range of specialist services. The department has its own Terminology & Classifications Delivery Service Approved Trainer & Auditor and has offices at both the Royal Hallamshire and Northern General Hospitals.

The post holders will ensure that clinical information is accurately and efficiently extracted from patients case notes, translating this information into appropriate ICD & OPCS codes for subsequent entry onto statistical databases. The resulting information is used by the Trust for managing resources, clinical research and commissioning.

Please be aware this is a 2-stage interview process. Stage 1 is a Presentation followed by an assessment this will be held on week commencing Wednesday 20th September 2023.

If you are successful, you will be moved to stage 2 and be offered an interview. The interviews will be held Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th September 2023.

Main duties of the job

Learn how to extract clinical information from patient records to identify diagnoses and surgical procedures. This will involve learning to use your own judgement to assign primary and secondary codes in complex cases or where there are several episodes of care within a hospital stay.

It is necessary to read through detailed case histories to ensure completeness and accuracy of data extraction and this will often involve exposure to potentially distressing/disturbing information/photographs.

Translate clinical information into appropriate codes using national coding classifications. This requires development of an in-depth knowledge of coding procedures and conventions and the acquisition of medical terminology. An awareness of human anatomy and physiological terms is also necessary. The performance of these tasks requires a high level of concentration to ensure the accuracy of this vital data.

Become proficient in the assignation of clinical codes according to the rules and conventions laid down by the World Health Organisation and Clinical Classification Service. This will require the application of analytical and judgemental skills every day.

Always maintain patient and staff confidentiality.

You will be required to complete the Clinical Coding Standards Course and attain a minimum pass rate. Training is ongoing and carried out by senior colleagues within the department.

About us

You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives.