For many people the job of a caretaker conjures up an image of an old man in a well-worn overcoat. But as Stuart Doran's experience as a residential caretaker in Camden Town in north London illustrates, there can be much more to the job than cleaning and tidying.

In the six years he has held his post, Doran, 46, has given life-saving first aid, helped victims of crime, tackled intruders and antisocial behaviour, as well as cleaning up hazardous materials such as needles and drug paraphernalia. "I'm surprised I've managed to cope with some of it," he admits.

Perhaps the most dramatic incident he helped with came in January 2007 when a man was stabbed in a tenant's flat. "The victim was on his back on the floor with blood gushing from the side of his chest," says Doran. "It was lucky I knew some first aid. I folded over a towel and pressed that on his chest to steam the blood flow. I was there for about 12 minutes until the ambulance arrived. Looking back it was really scary but at the time I was too caught up in trying to keep him alive to think about it."

No less challenging was dealing with the aftermath of a sexual assault on one of the tenants. Some residents came to the victim's aid after hearing their screams and managed to scare off the attacker. But they were afraid to contact the police, so Doran reported the incident. He also made contact with the victim who had also not reported the crime. With his encouragement and support both the victim and witnesses went to the police. The caretaker also asked for CCTV footage from the crime scene to be retrieved, which proved vital in securing the attacker's conviction. "If I'd not been here those witnesses would never have come forward," he says. Doran, who was brought up on a local estate, stresses that daily life in the neighbourhood, where he lives with his wife and two children, is not so grim. "Most people who live here are fantastic. I love the rapport with the residents. Most of the time you just get on with cleaning and supporting vulnerable people. Because I live here I do get a buzz from making the place look nice. It's more than just a job its about building friendships. People trust me and feel they can approach me, not just to deal with problems but for a chat."

David Gingold, a resident caretaker in neighbouring Kentish Town, nominated Doran for the Public Servant of the Year award for always going "the extra mile" to help the residents of the 135 flats he looks after. "He's incredibly calm given the things he has to deal with," says Gingold. "He doesn't just pass problems on to other agencies, he tries to help wherever he can. He's a very sensitive and caring person."

David Batty