Choose your study method

Studying online gives you total flexibility to study when and where works for you. You'll have access to a set of online learning tools, including study materials written by our team of specialist authors, links to useful websites and resources, and forums where you can share your thoughts and ideas with other learners.

 

Start date Application closing date Duration Price
22 January 2024 15 January 2024 20 weeks £820 Apply now

Why study this qualification?

Gaining a qualification is a great way to develop your career prospects. Qualifications at this level will enable you to be an effective housing practitioner and will provide you with a broader understanding of how your organisation and others in the housing industry work.

You will gain valuable skills including:

  • Researching and writing reports
  • Evaluating your organisation’s approach to key housing issues
  • Reflection on your own professional practice
  • Planning ahead for your own development.

Successful completion of the Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services will provide you with a vocational qualification of an equivalent standard to an A-level.

Includes complimentary CIH membership for the duration of your studies.

What is the Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services?

The Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services is an online qualification which provides you with the knowledge and understanding required to support homeless people at an operational level.

The qualification explores core areas of homelessness and has four mandatory units.

  • Homelessness services and prevention
  • Engaging people with lived experience of homelessness
  • Role of the practitioner in supporting independent living
  • Professional practice skills for housing.

Duration: approximately 20 weeks, with an average of eight hours study a week 

Who is this qualification for?

The Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services is a practice-based qualification, aimed at
frontline housing workers, and provides an excellent foundation in understanding housing services. It is
ideal if you work with homeless people but want to expand your knowledge of housing practice in general.

To register on this qualification you should be working in either a paid or voluntary capacity in housing and must also have completed either:

If you do not meet either of the above criteria you may still be eligible but must have at least six months experience of working in the housing sector.

Duration: approximately 20 weeks, with an average of eight hours study a week.

Qualification units

Homelessness services and prevention

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Homelessness services and prevention

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the key factors that contribute to people becoming homeless
  • Understand the statutory framework for the provision of services to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness
  • Know about the accommodation types and services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness
  • Understand how homelessness may be prevented

Engaging people with lived experience of homelessness

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Engaging people with lived experience of homelessness

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the importance of engaging people with lived experience of homelessness
  • Understand the opportunities for engaging people with lived experience of homelessness
  • Understand how to apply engagement of people with lived experience of homelessness in a specific context.

Role of the practitioner in supporting independent living

View unit

Role of the practitioner in supporting independent living

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the values and principles that underpin support services for independent living
  • Understand the role of the practitioner in supporting identified needs, goals and aspirations of individuals
  • Understand the role of the practitioners in safeguarding individuals

Professional practice skills for housing

View unit

Professional practice skills for housing

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the key skills required for the housing professional
  • Be able to assess own professional performance through reflective practice
  • Be able to manage and plan own professional developmen

What can I expect as a CIH Housing Academy online learner?

The CIH Housing Academy will support you throughout your qualification, offering guidance when personal or work-related problems arise that may affect your studies.

How we support you:

  • At the beginning of the qualification you will be provided with a brief introduction to the qualification and information on how it is delivered, structured and assessed.
  • You’ll have an academic tutor who offers you support throughout your qualification via email and telephone on request. Your tutor will mark your assignments and give you feedback as well as provide you with advice and support on any academic issues.
  • Get a complete set of online learning materials to work through for each unit. You will submit an assignment at the end of each unit of study (approximately every eight weeks).
  • Each unit contains activities to help support your learning and forums in which you can stay in contact with your fellow learners and share your thoughts on the study topics and assignment tasks.
  • You will be able to communicate and share ideas with other students via our e-learning site, Moodle.
Free student membership

During your studies you have the option to be a student member with CIH. Not only will student membership help you with your qualification but give you access to all the up-to-date information and best practice in the sector, as well as free attendance at our events, training and a wide array of digital resources.

How will student membership benefit me during my qualification?

  • Our Knowledge hub is broken down into specialist areas, where you can access information on the latest housing issues, and in-depth case studies and gain insight into what you need to know. You can use this when studying to help with examples, case studies, and general awareness around certain topics you may be studying
  • Hear about all the latest developments and important topics in housing with our webinars. These can be great if you prefer a listening learning style and want to hear about real-life examples from our expert speakers
  • Our membership helps your employability, progression, and development in your career. We offer resources such as blogs, publications, and guidance around career progression and development
  • Whilst studying your qualification it is still important to keep your knowledge current, with your free member newsletter, latest news, policy briefings, and more, student membership will help you do this
  • Get the opportunity to speak to other professionals that have completed your qualifications with our fantastic member network opportunities

How to apply

You can apply to study this qualification by selecting a start date from the table at the top of this page and completing our online application form.

You will be asked to provide evidence of your qualifications and/or your experience of working in the housing sector as part of the application process.

Applicants must be aged 18 or over, should be confident using IT and have access to a computer. 

You will be asked to select a payment option during the application process.

Payment options

Payments for CIH Housing Academy qualifications can be made either by individuals or organisations.

Individuals

Individuals or purchasers (making the booking on an individual’s behalf) booking onto all courses are required to pay their full fees within seven days of receipt of the invoice or prior to the start date of the course.
Failure to complete payment prior to the start date may mean that your course date will need to be changed or services stopped. *The start date is the day of the advertised closing date for applications.

Payment can be made by credit or debit card.

Organisations

If payment for fees is to be made by the individual’s organisation, a purchase order is required. It is the individual’s responsibility to provide this to CIH at the time of booking so please ensure you have this to hand before you begin your application.

Get in touch
If you have any questions about this qualification, please call us today on 024 7685 1700 or email housing.academy@cih.org.
Register your interest
Not quite ready to enrol yet? Register your interest and a member of our qualification team will be in touch to talk about this qualification and provide you with any more information you may need to make your decision.