Support Services
The Diocese of Norwich Education Services Company (DoNESC) provides back office services to schools.
An essential part of our Education Strategy is to provide a number of high quality, value for money services, thereby taking much of this responsibility from the Headteacher and local governing bodies and gaining cost advantages. This allows school leaders to concentrate on educating children, teaching and learning and working with the local community.
Our academies can access a package of core central services grouped under the following headlines:
- Finance and business support
- HR and recruitment support
- Estates and Health & Safety support
- Safeguarding advice and support
- Governance and policy support
We have brokered a number of services and contracts that academies have the option to use as well as mandatory services such as health and safety, with value for money and quality of provision as our priority.
Established in September 2019, DoNESC provides back office services. It is jointly owned and Chaired by the two Diocesan Trusts (St Benet's MAT and Diocese of Norwich Education & Academies Trust). It is a ‘not for profit company’. The company’s objective is to provide high quality, value for money services to both Diocesan Trusts.
Robust governance and risk management ensures any potential conflicts of interest are managed well. There are clear, formal contracts for all services provided across Diocesan Multi Academy Trusts (DMATs) to ensure transparency and the ability to monitor value for money (VFM).
Each year a VFM report is produced. Every three years an independent reviewer will check the costs of the services provided by the company against those available in the market. This will ensure that the DMATs and schools are still obtaining value for money for these services. This approach will give consistency of financial probity, policy implementation and risk management.
By developing this work within one company there are efficiencies and savings that can be made. The objectives set for DoNESC are to:
- ensure high quality, VFM services are provided for academies and schools
- ensure systems and performance meet legal and funding body requirements
- maximise opportunities for driving through cost savings to allow greater investment in front line services
- actively encourage and positively respond to customer feedback
- ensure a risk-based approach is taken, supported by robust risk management