SICA complaints procedure
by Michael Hannah, SICA Chair.
In my last post I wrote about SICA celebrants “saving the day” when families were let down by their original celebrant.
But it would be naive to think that we are immune to criticism. Sometimes we all get stuff wrong, mess things up. And are subject to complaints.
SICA does have a complaints procedure – all members can download it from their profile or it’s available here.
Thankfully, we have very, very rarely had to use it. But it is, I hope a rigorous and fair approach to dealing with situations where a family, couple or client feels that one of our members has not followed good practice. And it was recently updated in a review of all our documentation by Vice-chair, Diane McLeish.
Personally I’m reluctant (as a funeral celebrant) to give my families lots of paperwork so I don’t automatically offer them the compaints procedure when I meet them or make my first contact. But I have put a link to the document on my website.
One important thing to be aware of though. If a complaint arises out of your work on a legal marriage service, we advise that in the first instance, any complaints must be made to the belief group that you belong to and on whose behalf you are conducting the wedding.
18th September 2025
