What this template is for

At governance level, a policy should do more than state a position. It should show why the policy exists, what authority it carries, who owns it, how compliance or assurance will be overseen, and when the document will be revisited.

This template is designed for board-level, executive-level or other higher-risk policy areas where the document needs to stand up well to internal scrutiny and support sound organisational decision-making.

How to use it effectively

Before you draft

• Clarify the policy’s purpose, risk context and approval route before the first draft is written.
• Identify any legal, regulatory, contractual or sector-specific obligations that need to be reflected properly.
• Decide what sits within the policy itself and what should sit in supporting procedures, guidance or appendices.

As you write

• Keep the policy focused on authority, expectations, governance and accountability rather than trying to turn the whole document into an operational manual.
• Use defined responsibilities, approval arrangements, review dates and monitoring expectations to strengthen credibility.
• Be careful with absolute language unless the organisation can genuinely meet that standard in practice.

Before final approval

• Check that the policy is proportionate, aligned with other documents and written in language suitable for approval-level audiences.
• Confirm that monitoring, assurance and reporting arrangements are realistic and that ownership is clear.
• Make sure the final version includes proper document control and version history.

What to do next

• Complete the template and tailor it to the organisation’s governance structure, terminology and approval route.
• Obtain review from the relevant lead, specialist adviser or committee before final approval.

Once approved, issue the policy formally, communicate it appropriately and keep the version history up to date.