OpenDoc › Care policies and procedures › Free policies
Free care policies and procedures
In brief
The OpenDoc library of care policies and procedures is free to use, and so is having your own policies reviewed by OpenDoc's experts. Every library policy is written by a named expert and signed off by at least three, across all four UK nations.
When you are ready to tailor policies to your service, get alerts when guidance changes and give staff answers on their phones, the Organisation plan is £70 + VAT a month per service, with unlimited users and no long-term contract.
What do you get free, and what does the paid plan add?
| What you get | Free plan | Organisation plan, £70 + VAT a month per service |
|---|---|---|
| Policies written by named experts, each signed off by at least three | Included | Included |
| Have your own policies reviewed by OpenDoc's experts | Included | Included |
| A starter set chosen for your region and care setting | Organisation plan | Included |
| See who wrote and reviewed every policy | Included | Included |
| Read policies online | Included | Included |
| Tailor policies to your service, with every edit recorded | Organisation plan | Included |
| Alerts when CQC, NICE or Care Act guidance changes, with versions compared side by side | Organisation plan | Included |
| Staff answers by text or voice in 51 languages, from your own policies | Organisation plan | Included |
| See which policies staff read and what they ask | Organisation plan | Included |
| Named owners, review dates, reminders and approvals | Organisation plan | Included |
| Unlimited users, and free, fully managed setup | Organisation plan | Included |
Free policies for your type of service
A policy written for a care home will not work for a home care agency, and the CQC says so. On the Organisation plan, OpenDoc's starter set is chosen for your care setting. On the free plan, OpenDoc's experts will review the policies you already have.
Which policies are included?
The library holds more than 500 policies and procedures. They include the eight the CQC asks every new provider to send: complaints, consent, equality, diversity and human rights, governance and quality assurance, infection prevention and control, medicines management, recruitment, and safeguarding. Beyond those, there are policies for the rest of the fundamental standards, such as duty of candour, whistleblowing, mental capacity, health and safety, risk management, data protection, and staff training and supervision. See which policies every care service needs.
Are free care policies good enough?
They can be. A policy is not better because it costs more. What matters is who wrote it, whether it is current, and whether it fits your service. Use these five checks on any free policy, from any source:
- Who wrote it? Look for a named author with relevant experience, and a review by more than one person.
- Is it current? Check the date it was written and reviewed, and whether it reflects current CQC, NICE and Care Act guidance.
- Does it suit your type of service? The CQC says a template for residential care will not work for a home care agency.
- Can you tailor it? Every policy must carry your business name and the person responsible, and describe how your service really works.
- Will staff use it? A policy in a folder does not keep anyone safe. Staff need to find answers on shift, in words they understand.
Why is OpenDoc free?
OpenDoc is built by the care community. More than 100 named experts write and review its policies, including GPs, former CQC inspectors and clinical leaders, and care providers donate policies they already use. In September 2026 PossAbilities, a social enterprise that supports 1,070 people, gave its full policy library to OpenDoc. Every donated policy passes the same sign-off by at least three experts.
The library is shared freely. Services pay only for the tools that tailor policies to their service, keep them current and help staff use them. Meet the experts.
Where else can I find free care policy resources?
- The CQC publishes what every registration document must include, and guidance on each regulation.
- Digital Care Hub offers free resources funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, including data protection templates.
- NICE publishes guidance for social care that policies should reflect, such as on managing medicines in care homes.
When should you move to the paid plan?
When you want a starter set chosen for your region and care setting, when a policy needs to describe how your service works, when guidance changes and you need to know which policies it affects, or when staff need answers on shift. The Organisation plan is £70 + VAT a month per service, or £840 + VAT a year, with unlimited users, unlimited AI use, free fully managed setup and no long-term contract. You keep your policies if you leave.
Frequently asked questions
Are OpenDoc's care policies really free?
Yes. The OpenDoc library is free to use, and so is having your own policies reviewed by OpenDoc's experts. Every library policy is written by a named expert and signed off by at least three.
What does the paid plan add?
The Organisation plan, at £70 + VAT a month per service, gives new services a starter set of policies chosen for their region and care setting, lets you tailor each policy to your service with every edit recorded, alerts you when CQC, NICE or Care Act guidance changes, answers staff questions by text or voice in 51 languages, and shows which policies staff read and what they ask. It includes unlimited users and has no long-term contract.
Are free care policies good enough for the CQC?
A free policy can be as good as a paid one. What matters to the CQC is that each policy suits your type of service, is up to date, is tailored to how you work, and is followed by staff. The CQC says a template written for a different kind of service will not do.
Can I use free policies for CQC registration?
Yes, if they suit your type of service and you adapt each one before you send it. Every document must include your business name, the person responsible, the date it was created and the date it will be reviewed.
Who writes OpenDoc's free policies?
More than 100 named experts, including GPs, former CQC inspectors and clinical leaders. Every policy shows who wrote it, and at least three experts sign it off before it is published. Care providers also donate policies they use in their own services, which pass the same sign-off.
Why is OpenDoc free?
OpenDoc is built by the care community. Experts write and review policies, and providers donate their own, including the full library of PossAbilities, a social enterprise that supports 1,070 people. The library is shared freely, and services pay only for the tools that tailor policies, keep them current and help staff use them.
Do the free policies cover Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
Yes. OpenDoc covers all four UK nations. On the Organisation plan, the starter set is chosen for your region as well as your care setting.
Does the CQC approve any free policies?
No. The CQC does not approve or endorse any policy, free or paid. It looks at whether a service's policies fit the service, are kept up to date and are followed in practice.
Related pages
Sources
- CQC, What each document must include
- CQC, Documents everyone must send, last updated 10 August 2026
- PossAbilities donation: Caring Times, September 2026
- Digital Care Hub; NICE, Managing medicines in care homes
