Staff from ICAS create awareness of the service in the heart of Sheffield City Centre.

People from across Sheffield wanting to make a complaint about their NHS treatment or care can now benefit from independent advocacy support on their doorstep.

The Carers Federation have been delivering the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) to people across Yorkshire since 2005, the service is free, independent and confidential. The new Sheffield office based at The Circle on Rockingham Lane will improve the accessibility to the service for local people.

The ICAS service has been established on the back of its independence and its ability to meet the needs of the diverse range of clients who use the service. The Sheffield ICAS office has two full time advocates who are supported by a regional client call centre which ensures client’s calls are always answered during the opening hours of 9am–7pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-5pm Friday – an answer phone service operates at all other times and any message will be returned on the next working day.

To mark the opening of the office, local stakeholders were invited to a information event on 13th  January 2012.The event was an opportunity for ICAS staff to promote the service and showcase the work they already provide to local people.

The opening event was attended  representatives from Sheffield City Council, several NHS organisations, local community groups and local MP’s; RT Hon David Blunkett, Clive Betts and Meg Munn.

If you require support with an NHS complaint or know someone else who might, or want to obtain further information about the service, please call our free to mobiles and landlines number -  0808 802 3000. Lines are open Monday-Thursday 9am-7pm and Friday 9am-5pm -  alternatively visit our website at www.carersfederation.co.uk/icas