Helen Crook, head of clinical services at HCB, speaks to Health & Protection about putting the varied skills she has picked up over her career to use, why she takes inspiration from her late husband’s father, and an incident involving a set of dentures flying through the air.
How did you get your start in the sector?
I qualified as a nurse in 2004. After gaining experience in several roles, including surgical nursing, critical care nursing and forensic medicine, I started working for HCB as a case manager in 2018. After working in this role for 4 years, I was promoted to head of clinical services in October 2022.
What do you enjoy most about your current role?
In my role as head of clinical services I love being able to use the varied skills that I have acquired over my career, to support my colleagues and clients with any clinical challenge related to the services we provide and the sector that we work in. Each day is different, and I enjoy not only being able to support others, but to also actively enable positive change.
Who is your role model – in life or in work?
My late husband Tim’s father. He has fought some incredible health battles, and personal challenges, throughout his life and he is still facing these challenges now. Despite this, he has remained positive and determined.
In addition to this he lost his hearing completely when he was seven years old but has never let this change his goals and stop him in any way. To this day, I still find it astonishing that he has never heard my voice.
We communicate with sign language which he taught me when I first met Tim and it’s a skill I have also used in nursing, which is great.
Who has been your most important mentor in your career so far and why?
The mentor I had as a third year student nurse was both brilliant and terrifying. She really whipped me into my best nursing shape during that final year and instilled many values related to nursing practice and theory that I still stand by today.
As a nursing student, we are required to complete multiple competencies. This mentor had me write a mini essay for every competency as well as having a ‘pop quiz’ at every opportunity.
There were around 25 competencies for every term so you can imagine the work, but she helped make me the nurse I am today, and she enabled me to feel ready to face the ward as a qualified nurse.
What advice would you give to people thinking about a career in the sector?
The vocational rehabilitation and early intervention sectors are evolving and the world of health and work has changed massively over the last few years. We are seeing a population that is living longer, working longer and with increased medical problems, not least those thrown up by the Covid pandemic.
These factors present a huge challenge for our sector so staying up to date with medical knowledge and current service provision is key.
What has been your biggest setback and how did you overcome it?
It’s more than a setback but losing Tim in 2019 has without doubt been the hardest challenge I have ever faced. There is no way I would be where I am today with the support of my family, friends and colleagues.
When dealing with events like this, your network will literally be your safety net so accessing all support offered is crucial. Its something that I will not ever fully overcome and although it doesn’t define me now, it has shaped who I am in many ways.
Laugh or cry – what did your most memorable client or case make you want to do and why?
I could bore you for hours chatting through memories related to work. There are many where I have cried and probably equal numbers where I have laughed. I can remember a particular older lady I was looking after in theatre recovery after her surgery.
She was sat up chatting away when she sneezed, and her top set of dentures flew out and hit my colleague on the bottom. I did not laugh initially as I didn’t want to embarrass her, but as I calmly fetched said teeth and turned to face my patient, she was in hysterics.
What’s your ultimate goal for your career?
I have been so lucky that I have already achieved many goals during my career. For me now, I am busy settling into my new role and so my goal is to do the best I can to support the company, my colleagues, my team and our clients.
How would your boss describe you?
I think he would say I am very bubbly and always cheerful, but possibly slightly irritating after a while.
What is your biggest talent away from work?
I would not call it a talent as I am not very good at it but I am a keen equestrian and I also make handmade chocolate truffles which I am told taste amazing.
What mantra do you live by?
Life is short – this has multiple applications such as life is short have the cake, life is short buy the dress, life is short get the puppy – you can see why it’s one to live by.
What song would you regard as your theme tune?
I would love to say it’s a song that is inspirational and strong here – but my life is a little bit chaotic so its probably the Benny Hill theme tune.
