Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything UK community care providers ask before buying our operational governance systems. Can't find your answer? Email hello@carefranchising.co.uk.
About the systems
What exactly do I get when I buy a policy suite?
Every suite is a digital download containing four customer-facing documents: the Policy Template (Word), the Forms Workbook (Excel), the Individual Word Forms, and the Master Implementation Checklist (Word). All four share consistent v3.2 branding and full UK regulatory citation in headers and footers.
Who writes these — are they consultant templates?
No. Every system is authored and reviewed inside Care Horizons Limited, a CQC-rated Good community care service trading since 2004. They are the same documents we use and stand behind in our own inspections — not abstracted from practice, built from it.
Are they aligned with the new CQC Single Assessment Framework?
Yes. Every suite maps explicitly to SAF quality statements across the five Key Questions — Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, Well-Led. When you customise a suite, you can show an inspector exactly which quality statement each form evidences.
Which service types are these built for?
Community care providers: domiciliary, live-in, extra care, supported living, outreach, day services, and Personal Assistant frameworks. They are not tailored to residential care homes or hospital settings.
Buying, delivery and customising
How do I receive my documents after purchase?
Instantly. As soon as your order is paid, the order-confirmation email includes a download link to your suite. You can also re-download anytime from your customer account under Orders.
How long does it take to customise a suite for my service?
Most suites take 45–60 minutes. Every document carries [INSERT] placeholders for your organisation name, Registered Manager, service type, and operational details. Customise, review, deploy.
Is this a subscription?
No. One-time purchase, own forever. Most compliance providers charge £600–£1,800 per year. We don't. If you want ongoing version updates as regulations change, our optional Maintenance Subscription is available — but it is entirely optional and most customers add it later, only on the suites where it matters.
Can I edit the documents freely?
Yes. They are supplied as editable Word and Excel files specifically so you can adapt them to your service. See our Licence Terms for the full detail on permitted use.
Trust and verification
How do I know Hiscock & Co is legitimate?
Verify us in 30 seconds. We publish openly: Care Franchising Limited (publishing entity) — Companies House 16271445. Care Horizons Limited (CQC-registered care provider) — Companies House 05093285. Both are searchable on the Companies House register. Care Horizons is CQC-rated Good and holds ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 certification.
Are the regulatory citations current?
Yes. The v3.2 library reflects 2025 regulation — post-PSIRF, post-LPS, post-Sponsor Licence reform, post-Online Safety Act. We monitor CQC, NICE, ICO, UKVI and HSE for changes and update affected suites at version increments.
Will buying a suite guarantee a Good CQC rating?
No — and any provider claiming that is misleading you. Documentation is necessary but not sufficient. Inspectors test whether your systems function in practice. A strong, regulation-mapped policy library removes one major failure point and gives you a defensible evidence base — but the operational practice has to be real. That is exactly why our systems are built around implementation, not just policy text.
Refunds and support
What is your refund policy?
Because these are digital products delivered instantly, refunds are handled per our published Refund Policy. If something is wrong with a file you have downloaded — a broken document, a missing form — contact us and we will put it right.
Can I speak to someone who understands community care?
Yes. Customer support comes from people who actually run a registered service. General enquiries: hello@carefranchising.co.uk. Director, commercial, and Local Authority / NHS purchase orders: vierka.hiscock@carefranchising.co.uk.
Do you sell to Local Authorities and NHS-funded services?
Yes. We supply Local Authority commissioners and NHS-funded services specifying compliance baselines for their providers, and care franchise networks building a uniform library across sites. Contact the director address above for purchase orders.
Where to start
I'm not sure which suites I need. Where do I begin?
Start with the free CQC Self-Audit — 47 questions across the five Key Questions. It ends with a gap-to-system mapping showing exactly which Hiscock & Co system closes each gap you find. Then, if you are preparing for inspection, work the free 14-Day Readiness System.
Should I buy individual suites or a bundle?
If you have one or two specific gaps, buy the individual suites. If you are a new provider, modernising a legacy library, or preparing comprehensively for inspection, the bundles are discounted against buying each suite individually — and each bundle is built around a real operational scenario.
Still deciding?
Run the free CQC Self-Audit. Fifteen minutes, no card, no sign-up required to read it — and it tells you exactly which gaps to close first.
Get the Self-Audit Browse the systems