What this template is for

A good internal policy should tell people what the policy covers, who it applies to, what is expected, and who is responsible for maintaining it. It does not need to be long to be effective, but it does need to be clear.

This template is designed to help the writer produce a document that people can understand and use. It keeps the structure simple while still prompting the essentials that are often missed, such as ownership, approval, review and related guidance.

How to use it effectively

Before you draft

• Be clear about the issue the policy is intended to address and why a policy is needed at all.
• Decide who the policy applies to and whether any groups, roles or situations sit outside its scope.
• Check whether there are existing documents, contracts, handbooks or procedures that this policy needs to align with.

As you write

• Use plain professional language and avoid writing a policy that sounds more complex than it needs to be.
• State expectations clearly so that readers can understand what they should do in practice.
• Assign ownership properly so it is clear who maintains the policy and who approves it.

Before approval or issue

• Sense-check whether the policy is realistic, proportionate and consistent with how the organisation actually works.
• Make sure the review date, approval route and version details are completed.
• Consider how the policy will be communicated once agreed.

What to do next

• Complete the editable working template and adapt the headings where needed.
• Review the wording for clarity, consistency and practicality before sharing it for approval.

Once approved, issue the policy in the correct format and record where the live version will be stored.