Outsourced DPO

[Andy2789]

Starting to hit a brick wall now and wondering if anyone can offer some suggestions please? I have attended more courses than I can shake a stick at on GDPR, I have done the leg work in writing the policies, privacy notices, procedures, given whole staff training at my own and a number of schools. However my position and responsibilities on the Leadership Team mean I have a conflict of interest and can't take on the role at my own school. I could offer the service to our feeder schools, however I have an issue around capacity and what service we will get as they have no-one to support us.

 

The only solution I see is to outsource the DPO position, money is (as for most schools) an issue. The other schools have agreed to follow my suggestion on service, I have spoken with a few companies where the cost was either insane, or I wasn't happy with the service and felt like they have jumped on the bandwagon. Can anyone please suggest who they are using that they trust.

 

Any help gratefully received, I also apologies as I know there are a number of posts about this on here. But none recently, and I know many schools are in my position right now.

[djm968]

Have you looked at SBM Services?

 

SBM Services | Exceptional services to schools

 

http://www.sbmservices.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/GDPR-Support-Services.pdf

[Andy2789]

They are one we are looking at right now, are you with them? I am hoping to find a personal recommendation to make sure we don't end up with someone who's gone into it for a bit of money.

[djm968]

Yes our Trust use SBM for quite a few services, GDPR is one of those and we are happy with the services they provide.

[Ditto]

@Andy2789 - have you come to a conclusion or decision with regards SBM? Did you consider any other service providers. I can see we may need to go a similar route.

[Andy2789]

We still have got no further in truth, we contacted a company that a local school have gone with (that they recommended) but the company didn't get back to us. This is a very difficult situation, we need to know we are getting someone who know's what they are doing and equally get the value for money. I have done all the leg work, writing the policy, getting staff on board, giving the training, chasing the audits and sorting procedures. That I want to ensure whoever we 'appoint' continues it in the right way and we get the support we need.

[Simcfc73]

We still have got no further in truth, we contacted a company that a local school have gone with (that they recommended) but the company didn't get back to us. This is a very difficult situation, we need to know we are getting someone who know's what they are doing and equally get the value for money. I have done all the leg work, writing the policy, getting staff on board, giving the training, chasing the audits and sorting procedures. That I want to ensure whoever we 'appoint' continues it in the right way and we get the support we need.

 

In the same boat, I got a price from SBM which is alot but piece of mind for me if they do a decent job.