The Filling Station Trust
Safeguarding Policy
Important Notice
This safeguarding policy applies exclusively to The Filling Station Trust. Every Filling Station meeting is an independent entity. Each local team is therefore responsible for ensuring that their meeting is both welcoming and safe. The Filling Station Trust recommends that meetings have their own Safeguarding policy. Information about safeguarding at a specific Filling Station can be obtained by contacting that meeting directly using the contact details on the Filling Station website (www.thefillingstation.org).
SECTION 1: The Organisation
The objects of the charity are the advancement of the Christian religion for the public benefit through ecumenical Christian ministry, and the promotion of teaching on all aspects of Christian life and faith in accordance with biblical principles. In particular by facilitating prayer meetings, sung corporate worship, study groups, and the production and/or distribution of literature to enlighten others about the Christian religion.
The Filling Station Trust:
- Believes that each person has a value and dignity that comes directly from God’s creation of male and female in His own image and likeness
- Acknowledges the Christian duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm
- Recognises that some individuals are particularly vulnerable to abuse in all its forms
- Acknowledges the effects this abuse may have on people and their development
- Commits to respond without delay to any allegation that abuse has occurred as set out in this document
The Filling Station Trust undertakes to:
- Follow all national safeguarding legislation and procedures
- Provide on-going safeguarding training for all its workers
- Review safeguarding policy and practice regularly
- Support the Safeguarding Coordinators (see Section 3 below) in their work and in any action they may need to take in order to protect children and adults with care and support needs
SECTION 2 – Prevention
Safeguarding Awareness
- The Filling Station Trust is committed to developing a culture of awareness of safeguarding issues to help protect everyone
- As a member of Thirtyone:eight (https://thirtyoneeight.org/) The Filling Station will receive up-to-date and externally approved professional advice on Safeguarding
- Safeguarding recommendations will be brought to the notice of local Filling Station teams both in the Starter Pack and by the Regional Consultants
Safeguarding Training
- The Filling Station Trust is committed to providing on-going Safeguarding training and development opportunities for all workers. Employees and volunteers at the Trust will undertake recognised Safeguarding training on a regular basis either as part of their denomination or through Thirtyone:eight.
- The Filling Station Safeguarding Coordinator as well as each Filling Station Regional Consultant must reach a standard of training deemed appropriate by the Filling Station Trustee Safeguarding Coordinator. Currently Level 3 would be suitable.
Safer Recruitment
- The Filling Station Trust will ensure all workers will be appointed, trained, supported and supervised in accordance with government guidance on safe recruitment.
This includes ensuring that:
- There is a written job description / person specification for the post
- The applicant will have been interviewed
- A disclosure and barring check has been completed where necessary
- The applicant will be required to complete a probationary period
- The applicant has been given a copy of the organisation’s safeguarding policy and knows how to report concerns
SECTION 3 – Recognising and responding appropriately to an allegation or suspicion of abuse
Understanding Abuse and Neglect
- Defining abuse is a difficult and complex issue. Detailed definitions, and signs and indicators of abuse are available to download here:
Responding to Allegations of Abuse
- Under no circumstances should a Trustee, member of staff or volunteer carry out their own investigation into an allegation or suspicion of abuse
If a safeguarding concern is raised or an allegation made about a member of the Filling Station Trust staff the following procedure should be followed:
- The person in receipt of allegations or suspicions of abuse should report concerns as soon as possible to Brian Streeter, the Safeguarding Coordinator, who is nominated by the Trust to act on their behalf in dealing with the allegation or suspicion of neglect or abuse, including referring the matter on to the statutory authorities.
- In the absence of the Safeguarding Co-ordinator or if the suspicions in any way involve the Safeguarding Co-ordinator, then the report should be made in the first instance to Thirtyone:eight
- PO Box 133, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7UQ Tel: 0303 003 11 11
- Filling Station Membership Number: 11520
- If there are concerns about safeguarding, or how a safeguarding allegation is being handled the Trustee Safeguarding Coordinator should be informed
The role of the Safeguarding Coordinator/ Trustee Safeguarding Coordinator is to collate and clarify the precise details of the allegation or suspicion and pass this information on to statutory agencies who have a legal duty to investigate.
The Safeguarding Coordinator may need to inform others depending on the circumstances and/or nature of the concern (for example the Chair of Trustees will be informed to log that a safeguarding concern is being dealt with).
Suspicions must not be discussed with anyone other than those nominated above. A written record of the concerns should be made in accordance with these procedures and kept in a secure place.
Whilst allegations or suspicions of abuse will normally be reported to the Safeguarding Coordinator, the absence of the Safeguarding Coordinator should not delay taking advice from Thirtyone:eight and, if necessary, referral to Social Services or the Police.
Staff, Volunteers and Trustees of the Trust will support the Safeguarding Coordinator/ Trustee Safeguarding Coordinator in their role, and accept that any information they may have in their possession will be shared in a strictly limited way on a need to know basis.
If an individual is concerned that the Safeguarding Coordinator has not responded appropriately, or if there is a disagreement with the Safeguarding Coordinator as to the appropriateness of a referral they may contact the Trustee Safeguarding Coordinator or Thirtyone:eight directly.
If a safeguarding concern is raised, or an allegation made about a team member or guest at a Filling Station meeting to a member of the Filling Station Trust staff, the staff member needs to ask the person to raise the concern formally with the local Filling Station Team. It will then be duty of the local Filling Station Team to seek advice from Thirtyone:eight and proceed accordingly.
SECTION 4 – Practice Guidelines
As an organisation that occasionally works with adults with care and support needs we wish to operate and promote good working practice and minimise the risk of false or unfounded accusation.
Prayer Ministry
- Prayer ministry is a time when safeguarding risks may be increased because those coming to receive prayer ministry are often deliberately making themselves vulnerable to those praying. For this reason it is suggested that particular care should be taken to protect those coming for prayer ministry.
- The Prayer Ministry: Values and Practice document which outlines pastoral best practice for Prayer Ministry at Filling Station meetings and events can be downloaded here: