Designed for managers and team leaders in homelessness services, the CIH Level 4 Homelessness Service Management qualification has been developed with sector experts and people with lived experience, alongside qualification specialists CIH.

The course focuses on leading person‑centred and trauma‑informed services and meets the new Competence and Conduct Standard for housing managers, which comes into effect in October 2026 under the Social Housing Regulation Act.

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What will you learn?

The qualification aims to provide knowledge and skills to manage and deliver person-centred and trauma-informed services that enable successful outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.

It also develops understanding of the causes and context of homelessness, including related policy and legislation and how this relates to service provision, working in partnerships, managing and improving services, team management, coproduction, and professionalism, including reflective practice and CPD.

The qualification covers key aspects of homelessness service management through five compulsory units:

  1. Context of homelessness and homelessness services
  2. Managing and delivering trauma-informed homelessness services
  3. Partnership working in homelessness services
  4. Managing and improving homelessness services
  5. Professionalism in homelessness services

Who is it for?

This qualification is ideal if you’re currently working in a management or team leader role within homelessness services and want to build your confidence, knowledge, and skills. It’s also suitable for people working in homelessness services or related sectors who are aspiring to move into a team leader or management role in a homelessness service.

Some typical job titles this level 4 qualification aims to support entry and progression within are:

  • Homelessness Service Manager/Team leader
  • Outreach/Rough Sleeping Services Manager/Team leader
  • Hostel/Supported Accommodation Manager/Team leader
  • Housing Options Manager/Team leader
  • Foodbank Manager/Team leader
  • Day Centre/Drop-in Manager/Team leader

Why choose this course?

How will it benefit you?

Completing this qualification is a great way to establish yourself as a confident and effective manager, ensuring you have the knowledge, skills, and understanding to perform your role at the highest level.

With over 20 years’ experience delivering training for the homelessness sector, we have worked closely with our members, sector experts, and people with lived experience to ensure this qualification is relevant, current, and grounded in real practice. It will equip you with the understanding you need to support people experiencing homelessness and to lead teams effectively.

This qualification can help you to:

  1. Develop a strong understanding of the causes and consequences of homelessness, alongside the relevant policy and legal frameworks
  2. Gain the knowledge and skills to deliver psychologically informed, trauma‑informed, and person‑centred services
  3. Build confidence in managing and supporting teams, including leading change within homelessness services
  4. Strengthen your understanding of effective partnership working, safeguarding, and data sharing across services
  5. Develop your ability to manage risk and contribute to the development of organisational policies
  6. Apply co‑production principles, involving people with lived experience in the design and improvement of services
  7. Reflect on and analyse your own professional practice against recognised professional standards
  8. Build confidence in your practice and leadership
  9. Support your career development and open up opportunities for further study

How will it benefit your organisation?

This brand‑new qualification recognises the vital role of service managers and supports organisations to upskill managers to work in a strengths‑based, person‑centred way.

It can help your organisation to:

  • Ensure greater consistency of standards and practice across services
  • Broaden and strengthen the organisation’s knowledge base
  • Demonstrate your commitment to investing in and valuing your staff
  • Support staff retention, progression, and long‑term career development

This qualification also meets the new requirements of the Competence and Conduct Standard for housing managers, which comes into effect in October 2026 under the Social Housing Regulation Act.

Entry requirements

To apply for this qualification, you should:

  • Be working within a housing or homelessness service in a management or team leader role, or be aspiring to move into a management role.

AND

Have completed:

  • a Level 3 qualification in homelessness or housing, or
  • a Level 3 qualification in a related area.

We understand that not everyone will have these prior qualifications or access to copies of achievement. If this is the case, you can complete and assessment question within the application form to demonstrate your ability to work at Level 4.

Please note that, to help us widen the impact of the funded places, we can accept one applicant per organisation.

Fully funded places available on our autumn cohorts

Thanks to funding from MHCLG, places on our autumn cohorts are fully funded.

There are two cohorts available, with one starting in September and one in November, each offering 18 places.

To ensure this opportunity is shared as widely as possible, we are inviting one applicant per organisation for this qualification across all cohorts.

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FAQs

What information do you need for the application form?

  • Why are you applying for this course? (250 words)
    In your answer to this question, please explain how this course will benefit your current role and career. Given the significant time commitment, we want to understand your personal motivation to ensure your success. Demand for this course can be high so this statement is used to evaluate applications.
  • Your current job role and career history
    To be accepted onto this course, you need at least six months of experience working in the homelessness sector in a management or team leader role. This information helps us determine whether you have the relevant work experience.
  • Your educational qualifications
    You will need to provide evidence of a Level 3 qualification or, if you don't have this, complete a short assessment question, as outlined in the entry requirements section above.
  • Reasonable adjustments
    We aim to make the course accessible to everyone, so we’ll ask if you need any adjustments, such as subtitles for sessions or more time to submit assignments.
  • Manager's details
    Finally, we require confirmation that your manager approves your application and that you will receive the necessary support during the course.

How much time do I need to commit to this qualification?

This course takes place over 26 weeks.

It is recommended that a commitment is made between learners and their managers for a minimum of 1 hour of protected study time a day, during working hours, for the duration of the qualification.

You should allow around 6–7 hours per week for self-study, alongside attending all sessions and support sessions.

What support do I need from my organisation?

We require sign‑off from your manager to take part in the course, including agreement to provide protected study time. We also recommend that your manager checks in on your progress throughout the qualification to help ensure you receive the support you need.

Are sessions online or in-person?

All sessions will take place online.

You will need access to a laptop or PC and access to the internet to attend the training sessions and complete assignments.

When are the sessions for the Autumn cohorts?

September 2026 cohort

  • Induction: Monday 21st September (10.00am-11.00am)
  • Unit 1
    • Session 1: Wednesday 9th September (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Session 2: Wednesday 30th September (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Learner support session: Wednesday 7th October (2.00pm-4.00pm)
  • Unit 2
    • Session 1: Wednesday 28th October (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Session 2: Wednesday 4th November (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Learner support session: Wednesday 11th November (10.00am-12.00pm)
  • Unit 3
    • Session 1: Wednesday 2nd December (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Session 2: Wednesday 9th December (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Learner support session: Wednesday 16th December (10.00am-12.00pm)
  • Unit 4
    • Session 1: Wednesday 13th January (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Session 2: Wednesday 20th January (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Learner support session: Wednesday 27th January (10.00am-12.00pm)
  • Unit 5
    • Session: Wednesday 17th February (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Learner support session: Wednesday 24th February (10.00am-12.00pm)

November 2026 cohort

  • Induction: Monday 9th November (11.00am-12.00pm)
  • Unit 1
    • Session 1: Thursday 12th November (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Session 2: Thursday 19th November (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Learner support session: Wednesday 25th November (10.00am-12.00pm)
  • Unit 2
    • Session 1: Wednesday 13th January 2027 (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Session 2: Tuesday 19th January (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Learner support session: Monday 25th January (2.00pm-4.00pm)
  • Unit 3
    • Session 1: Thursday 11th February (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Session 2: Thursday 18th February (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Learner support session: Tuesday 23rd February (10.00am-12.00pm)
  • Unit 4
    • Session 1: Thursday 18th March (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Session 2: Thursday 25th March (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Learner support session: Thursday 8th April (10.00am-12.00pm)
  • Unit 5
    • Session: Wednesday 21st April (9.30am-4.30pm)
    • Learner support session: Thursday 29th April (10.00am-12.00pm)

All sessions, including the induction and support sessions, must to be attended.

I can attend every session except for the induction session, is the induction session important?

Attending the induction session is essential for your success on this course.

In the session, you will learn how to navigate your learner account and key information related to the course assignments.

I'm from a large organisation, can several people from my organisation apply?

No, unfortunately we can only accept one applicant per organisation, per qualification.

Talk To Us

6M5A2265

Will Vaughan

Senior Qualifications Manager