Clinical Coding Qualified AuditorNHS
Job summary
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a Clinical Coding Qualified Auditor to join our Clinical Coding team. This is a senior specialist role supporting the delivery of the Trust's annual clinical coding audit programme, including evidence for the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) Data Security Standard 1, working directly with the Clinical Coding Audit & Data Quality Lead.
The successful candidate will undertake re-coding of complex cases across multiple specialties, identify error patterns and documentation issues, and translate audit findings into actionable improvement insights to support coding accuracy, data quality, and safe patient care.
We welcome applications from candidates who hold Approved Clinical Coding Auditor status, or from Accredited Clinical Coders (ACC) with at least three years' post-accreditation experience who are committed to achieving auditor accreditation within an 18-month development period from appointment. Structured support and mentoring will be provided.
The post operates on a hybrid pattern between Bolton Hospital and home.
Main duties of the job
Department, contributing to coding accuracy, data assurance, and quality improvement across the Trust. Reporting to the Clinical Coding Audit & Data Quality Lead, the post holder will:
- Undertake re-coding of selected inpatient and day-case episodes, including complex cases, against ICD-10 and OPCS-4 national standards
- Apply agreed audit sampling instructions and methodologies, contributing to the delivery of the annual audit plan
- Identify recurring error types, emerging patterns, and documentation issues, providing evidence-based insights from audit findings
- Liaise with clinicians to clarify ambiguous documentation and support documentation improvement work
- Produce coding quality reports and contribute to evidence for DSPT and external audit activity
- Provide technical guidance, peer support, and mentoring to the wider coding team
- Support training and induction in coding standards and audit methodology
- Maintain accurate, auditable records of coding and audit activity in line with Trust and national requirements
The role requires advanced knowledge of ICD-10, OPCS-4, clinical terminology, and clinical documentation, together with sound professional judgement, the ability to work independently within an agreed audit framework, and a constructive approach to coder development and clinician engagement.
Job description
The Clinical Coding Qualified Auditor is a Band 6 senior specialist post sitting within Bolton NHS Foundation Trust's Clinical Coding Department, part of the Digital and Transformation Division. The post holder works under the direction of the Clinical Coding Audit & Data Quality Lead, contributing to the delivery of the Trust's clinical coding audit programme and supporting the wider coding function in maintaining accurate, complete, and standards-compliant coded clinical data.
Audit and Oversight
The post holder undertakes re-coding of selected inpatient and day-case episodes, including complex cases, applying advanced knowledge of ICD-10, OPCS-4, and the National Clinical Coding Standards. They work within agreed audit sampling instructions and methodologies, identifying recurring error types, emerging patterns, and documentation issues across allocated specialties. Findings are translated into actionable insights to support coder development, documentation improvement, and Trust-wide data quality. Contentious or borderline cases are escalated to the Audit & Data Quality Lead in line with agreed procedures.
Clinical Engagement
The post holder liaises with clinicians and specialty teams to clarify ambiguous, incomplete, or inconsistent documentation, presenting audit findings under the supervision of the Audit & Data Quality Lead where required. The post holder contributes coding insights to documentation improvement projects and supports the development of local documentation standards, cultivating constructive working relationships with specialty teams.
Data Quality and Reporting
The post holder produces coding quality reports and summaries for Divisional and Trust use, working with Business Intelligence, Finance, and Data Quality teams as required to resolve coding discrepancies. The role contributes to the preparation of evidence for the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) and external audit activity, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and traceability of audit records.
Training, Development and Mentoring
The post holder provides technical guidance and peer support to the Clinical Coding team, contributing to the induction and ongoing development of new coders. Audit trends and findings are presented in coding team meetings to support continuous professional development. The post holder participates in peer review, coding consistency exercises, and lessons-learned activities, and supports the identification of training needs from audit outcomes.
Governance and Compliance
All coding and audit activities are undertaken in line with ICD-10/OPCS-4 standards, Trust SOPs, and national coding guidance. The post holder handles patient information in accordance with Information Governance, GDPR, DSPT, and Caldicott principles, and maintains version-controlled audit documents and evidence sets to support secure retention and accurate record-keeping.
Development Pathway
Candidates may apply having already attained Approved Clinical Coding Auditor status. Where the post is appointed to an Accredited Clinical Coder (ACC) with at least three years' post-accreditation experience, the post holder will be supported to attain Approved Clinical Coding Auditor status within an 18-month development period from appointment, with mentoring and structured support from the senior coding team.
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.