Complaints and their management are an important indicator of the quality of care. Therefore, effective management of complaints is central to improve services and prioritise an open, honest and transparent health service. However, there is scope for NHS organisations to improve their response to complaints. This article outlines the NHS complaints procedure, focusing on how nurses can develop essential skills to help them to improve their management of any complaints that arise in their clinical area. It provides a structured framework, identifying useful communication skills, and explores how managing complaints relates to a nurse’s statutory duty of candour.