Client Views

Peninsula Medical School (PMS)

ActorFactor have worked with PMS since its inception in 2002. PMS has introduced an innovative curriculum which includes clinical communication skills as a core subject and is working to give medical students the opportunity to develop competencies in this area to a high level. This is key to aims now at the heart of the NHS: those of developing partnerships with patients and breaking down barriers in communication with clients and colleagues.

ActorFactor provide actors on a regular basis to work in small groups training students across all years of the curriculum. The actor/facilitators play simulated patients with authentic behaviours, whilst being able to keep a ‘weather eye’ as a facilitator on the student’s level of responses. This enables an appropriate level of challenge to be presented throughout the portrayal. The student is encouraged to stop and reflect in order to change behaviours and to notice the impact within short feedback sessions. This part of the process helps the students to develop at a more general level as reflective practitioners.

We also provide actors to play simulated patients in clinical examinations, where a high degree of consistency is vital in maintaining equity for examinees.

ActorFactor provide training for actors with suitable experience who are offered work with PMS and hold developmental sessions with actor/facilitators on an ongoing basis.

Peninsula Allied Health Collaboration

Actor/facilitators are involved in the clinical communication skills training within the BSc (Hons) Speech and Language therapy. Students experience interacting with a variety of clients as part of preparation for their clinical placement to practice skills such as building rapport, gathering information, explaining, counselling and management. Skilled actor/facilitators provide specific feedback from the client’s perspective whilst also tailoring their own behaviours to provide appropriate challenge. Students are encouraged to stop and reflect on their own behaviours and the client’s responses to these and to make changes. Students are thus also developing the key skill of reflective practice.
ActorFactor are also involved in advanced training programmes for Clinical Educators. Actor/facilitators work with tailor-made briefs in small groups to present a range of challenging student behaviours. This enables clinical educators to practice coaching and supervision skills and to understand how these skills benefit the clinical teaching and learning environment.
ActorFactor provide actors for clinical examination in programmes such as Midwifery.
ActorFactor design and produce training films within clinical supervision and clinical education programmes.

“ ActorFactor have been core contributors to the training of speech and language therapists, and other health professionals for many years. The actors are highly skilled in facilitating learning by creating simulations of real clinical situations and helping the students to reflect on their behaviour towards others. It is fascinating to watch the learning take place, as students become aware of the impact of the language they use, their general demeanour and body language, and their empathic understanding of the client’s journey. There is no substitute for this cutting edge learning opportunity. It provides learners with a safe environment to practice real life difficult situations. ”

Maggie Cooper, Dean of the School of Health, The College of St Mark & St John (PAHC programme provider)

Plymouth Health Trust

“ The style of training delivered by Actorfactor is an excellent refreshing mixture, engaging all participants to practice their management skills in a safe learning environment, making a difficult topic more manageable. The absolute professionalism by Actorfactor has helped us to communicate more openly about work related issues within our organisation and be better prepared when Managing Diversity in the workplace. ”

Tracy Morrell
Training & Development Advisor
Management & Personal Development Team
Professional Training & Development

CIPD

“ Using actors to get across messages about managing diversity has been challenging and very effective. Actor Factor were certainly successful as their extended interactive session on handling workplace diversity issues covered almost everything from petty discrimination to work-life balance. ”

Tim Harris, CIPD Devon & Cornwall Branch, "Equality=Opportunity" conference chair, March, 2004

Business Link

“ ActorFactor provided Business Link with a thought-provoking seminar, as part of the staff event, in order to raise awareness of diversity issues and interpersonal relationships within the workplace. It was well received by staff and was discussed post event by many of the delegates. ActorFactor delivered a professional, interactive and appropriate seminar and I wouldn't hesitate to use them in the future. ”

Carolyn Giles, HR Consultant for Business Link

Pharos 8

“ Pharos 8 is an Organisation Development Consultancy specialising in engaging leaders and their people in change. The success of our assignments is dependent on the exceptional people we work with and partner with.
ActorFactor is one of our most valued and requested partners. We collaborate with the ActorFactor team on many of our clients' development and behavioural change programmes. They alsways support and enrich our facilitation providing robust and flexible interventions that give learners clarity and insight. Their team possess a unique talent for making the scenario and culture feel real during coaching sessions and role play, enabling an individual's interpersonal relationships at work appear so similar to real life thatin the moment they can experience what a successful outcome feels and looks like when change is made.
Our association with ActorFactor has added value to our offerings and reputation and where we have joined forces on a client assignment there has always been a request for 'more of this way of working'. ”

Harwick HR Limited

“ As a potentially reluctant coachee, I have been delighted with the impact that Emma's coaching has had on my professional and personal life. She is extremely responsive to feedback and designs the sessions around my needs at that moment. I didn't understand the real benefits of coaching until I began working with Emma, and this will become a permanent part of my personal and professional development from now on. ”

Carolyn Giles, Hardwick HR Limited