Job summary
The Clinical Coding Audit & Data Quality Lead is the Trust's senior specialist for clinical coding audit, responsible for ensuring the accurate, consistent, and compliant application of ICD-10, OPCS-4, national coding standards, and audit methodology across all specialties.
The post holder leads the Trust's internal clinical coding audit programme, provides authoritative expert judgement in complex or contentious coding scenarios, and ensures high standards of data quality, governance, and assurance. The role requires extensive post-qualification knowledge, including NCCQ and Clinical Coding Auditor status.
The post holder works autonomously, provides specialist advice to clinicians and senior managers, and collaborates across Divisions to improve documentation quality, coding accuracy, and clinical engagement. They provide day-to-day direction to the Clinical Coding Audit team and deputise for the Clinical Coding Manager when required.
Main duties of the job
o Lead, deliver, and oversee the Trust's annual clinical coding audit programmeo Provide specialist interpretation of national coding standards, resolving complex or ambiguous coding issueso Analyse audit findings, identify risks and trends, and provide evidence-based recommendationso Work collaboratively with Divisions, clinicians, BI, and Finance to validate results and improve documentationo Produce high-quality audit reports, data-quality analyses, and assurance outputso Provide expert mentoring to auditors and coding staffo Support improvement of documentation quality and specialty-specific guidanceo Ensure full compliance with national coding standards, DSPT, GDPR, Caldicott, and Trust IG policieso Act as senior technical lead for coding audit, exercising delegated authority and deputising for the Coding Manager
About us
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust is an integrated care organisation. Royal Bolton Hospital (RBH) has approximately 700 beds and a turnover of £320m. The hospital is one of the busiest hospitals in Greater Manchester for urgent care and is also a regional 'supercentre' for maternity services, babies and children. As an integrated organisation we also provide care and support in the community at over 20 health centres and clinics, including the Bolton One complex in the town centre, as well as services such as district and school nursing. We serve a population of around 270,000 and employ approximately 5,300 staff.
As mentioned earlier in this advert we strive to ensure that our staff can be the best they can be in their role, and we will create a development plan based on your individual needs. We ensure that our staff have regular FABB (For a Better Bolton) catch-up discussions with their manager and our VOICE Values clearly set out what we expect from all our staff whilst in work. Ultimately everything we do in the Trust has patient care at its heart, and your role as Clinical Coder will be so important in ensuring our patients get the best possible care.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder is the Trusts senior specialist for clinical coding audit, responsible for leading the internal audit programme, ensuring the accurate and consistent application of ICD10, OPCS4 and national coding standards, and providing expert interpretation in complex or contentious cases. They independently review and recode complex episodes, analyse audit findings, identify risks, and drive improvements in coding accuracy, documentation quality and data assurance.
The role provides daytoday leadership for the Clinical Coding Audit function, offering specialist supervision, mentoring and technical support to auditors and coding staff. The post holder works closely with clinicians, Divisions, Business Intelligence and Finance to validate findings, improve documentation, and support governance, financial accuracy and patientsafety processes.
They produce highquality audit reports, dashboards and assurance outputs and maintain robust audit documentation. The role leads Trustwide dataquality monitoring for coded activity, supports DSPT and external audit requirements, and ensures full compliance with IG, GDPR and Caldicott standards.
The post holder works autonomously as the senior technical authority, escalating only highimpact risks, and deputises for the Clinical Coding Manager where required, representing the service in governance forums and supporting Trustwide coding, documentation and dataquality improvement.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder is the Trusts senior specialist for clinical coding audit, responsible for leading the internal audit programme, ensuring the accurate and consistent application of ICD10, OPCS4 and national coding standards, and providing expert interpretation in complex or contentious cases. They independently review and recode complex episodes, analyse audit findings, identify risks, and drive improvements in coding accuracy, documentation quality and data assurance.
The role provides daytoday leadership for the Clinical Coding Audit function, offering specialist supervision, mentoring and technical support to auditors and coding staff. The post holder works closely with clinicians, Divisions, Business Intelligence and Finance to validate findings, improve documentation, and support governance, financial accuracy and patientsafety processes.
They produce highquality audit reports, dashboards and assurance outputs and maintain robust audit documentation. The role leads Trustwide dataquality monitoring for coded activity, supports DSPT and external audit requirements, and ensures full compliance with IG, GDPR and Caldicott standards.
The post holder works autonomously as the senior technical authority, escalating only highimpact risks, and deputises for the Clinical Coding Manager where required, representing the service in governance forums and supporting Trustwide coding, documentation and dataquality improvement.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Professional Registration
Essential
- Approved Clinical Coding Auditor (evidence of current status)
- National Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ)
- Accredited Clinical Coder (ACC) status
Desirable
- Relevant Level 3 qualification (e.g., A Level)
- Microsoft Office qualification (ECDL Level 2 or equivalent)
- Medical Terminology qualification (e.g., AMSPAR Level 2)
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience as Accredited Clinical Coder across broad specialties
- Proven experience in clinical coding audit incl. complex cases
- Experience advising clinicians on documentation
Desirable
- Experience contributing to service improvement or documentation-related QI projects
- Experience of supervising or coordinating the work of others in a technical or specialist context
Skills
Essential
- Able to analyse audit findings & present recommendations
- Able to analyse coded data: errors, trends, improvements
- Computer literacy incl. EPR/coding systems
- Effective verbal & written communication
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of Information Governance, confidentiality, GDPR
- Strong understanding of coding, auditing and higher level coding functions
Person Specification
Qualifications & Professional Registration
Essential
- Approved Clinical Coding Auditor (evidence of current status)
- National Clinical Coding Qualification (NCCQ)
- Accredited Clinical Coder (ACC) status
Desirable
- Relevant Level 3 qualification (e.g., A Level)
- Microsoft Office qualification (ECDL Level 2 or equivalent)
- Medical Terminology qualification (e.g., AMSPAR Level 2)
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience as Accredited Clinical Coder across broad specialties
- Proven experience in clinical coding audit incl. complex cases
- Experience advising clinicians on documentation
Desirable
- Experience contributing to service improvement or documentation-related QI projects
- Experience of supervising or coordinating the work of others in a technical or specialist context
Skills
Essential
- Able to analyse audit findings & present recommendations
- Able to analyse coded data: errors, trends, improvements
- Computer literacy incl. EPR/coding systems
- Effective verbal & written communication
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding of Information Governance, confidentiality, GDPR
- Strong understanding of coding, auditing and higher level coding functions
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
