Carer of the Year nominee – John Henderson

Carer of the Year nominee – John Henderson

John Henderson has been a care support worker with Dougie Mac’s Young Adult Service for more than 20 years and says he’s found his vocation in life.

The 39-year-old, from Stone, has been described as a hidden gem who has a knack of bonding with all of the children and young adults who use the service.

Nominating John as a Carer of the Year in the Your Heroes Awards, Linda McNee, head of the hospice’s Young Adult Service, said: “John is the most helpful person you could hope to meet, anyone coming to the Young Adult Unit will have encountered John and his helpfulness.

“John is our hidden gem in the Young Adult Service. He is quiet and understated despite being the most experienced member of the team,

“John has grown up with many of our young adults, having worked at Donna Louise and now Dougie Mac for more than 20 years.

“He is able to adapt his care and support whether working with a two-year-old girl who wants to play princesses or a 25-year-old man who wants to enjoy a gaming evening, game of poker or learning to cook from scratch.

“John has a quiet, unassuming demeanour and is able to simply be alongside young adults who are struggling with their social isolation or emotional wellbeing.

“He has achieved amazing results with two young adults currently now attending the Young Adult Unit regularly and the impact this has had on both them and their families’ wellbeing is difficult to quantify in words.”

John said: “People saying you’re doing well makes you feel better. It makes you feel that you’re doing it right. It validates your skills.”

He added: “It’s the people that have kept me here for so long. I don’t really see myself ever doing anything else. I’ll just keep on specialising in being special and doing my best for the young people.”