PRPlayers

Creating a Safeguarding Film for Anaesthetists

Challenge

The Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) has successfully delivered several Level 3 Safeguarding training days, tailored specifically for anaesthetists. Feedback from participants consistently highlighted the value of practising interviews with a parent and child about safeguarding concerns that may arise during theatre procedures.

Following the success of live role play, the RCoA sought to develop a short training film to support anaesthetists at Levels 2 and 3, helping them navigate these sensitive conversations more effectively.

Requirements

To produce the film, PRP was asked to provide:

• A trained adult role player to portray the parent

• A trained adolescent role player to portray the child

• An actor with enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance for working with children

• A licensed chaperone to accompany the adolescent role player throughout the shoot

Solution

PRP sourced and provided professional role players with experience in safeguarding scenarios, ensuring a realistic and sensitive portrayal of the parent and child dynamic. The selected adult role player had up-to-date DBS clearance, and a qualified chaperone was present throughout the filming process in line with safeguarding best practices.

The film was designed to:

• Demonstrate how to prepare for an interview with a parent and child

• Showcase effective communication techniques during sensitive safeguarding discussions

• Highlight the emotional complexity of these conversations while remaining clinically focused

• Offer guidance on communicating findings with other professionals

• Clarify next steps within the safeguarding process

It was noted in the final edit that the reactions depicted by the parent and child were deliberately compartmentalised to cover a range of possible responses - recognising that real-life scenarios may vary greatly in order and intensity.

Results

The completed training film has been used as a valuable resource in RCoA’s safeguarding education for anaesthetists, equipping medical professionals with both the confidence and framework to handle these difficult discussions.

By presenting both the clinical and emotional dimensions of safeguarding, the film helps clinicians anticipate challenges, practice empathy, and communicate more effectively with children, parents, and fellow healthcare professionals.

Watch the final footage here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpxXd6C1YrE