What will you learn?

This course aims to equip you with practical skills to support individuals who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, with a focus on understanding their needs and building on their strengths and personal goals. Through a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach, the course units will deepen your knowledge and enhance your ability to provide effective support.

The qualification covers key aspects of homelessness through four compulsory units:

  1. Homelessness services and prevention
  2. Role of the practitioner for independent living
  3. Engaging people with lived experience of homelessness
  4. Professional practice skills for housing

Upon successful completion of the course, you will earn a vocational qualification equivalent to an A-level standard.

Who is it for?

This course is ideal for client-facing staff working in either a paid or voluntary capacity in housing or homelessness.

Some typical job titles of those who study our level 3 qualification are: support worker, team leader, night worker, supported housing worker.

Why choose this course?

How will it benefit you

Completing this qualification is a fantastic way of establishing yourself as a professional, ensuring you have the theoretical knowledge, key skills and learning to perform your role at the highest level.

With over 20 year delivering courses for the homelessness sector, we have worked closely with our members to ensure the content in this qualification will be relevant, up-to-date and provide learners with the understanding to support people experiencing homelessness.

It can help you to:

  • Support people more effectively
  • Build confidence in your practice
  • Develop your career and provide opportunities for further study

How will it benefit your organisation

The ground-breaking qualification aims to recognise the vital work homelessness staff do and upskill staff to support people in a strengths-based way.

It can help your organisation to:

  • Ensure consistency of standards throughout your services
  • Show how much you value your team
  • Support staff retention and career development

Entry requirements

To apply for this qualification, you should:

be working in a paid role within the housing or homelessness sector

AND

have completed a Level 2 qualification (equivalent to GCSE) or higher.

We understand that not everyone will have these prior qualifications or access to copies of achievement. If this is the case, you can complete an assessment question within the application form to demonstrate your ability to work at Level 3.

We also require sign‑off from your manager to take part in the course, including agreement to provide a minimum of 1 hour of protected study time a day, during working hours, for the duration of the qualification.

Fully funded places available on July cohort

Thanks to funding from MHCLG, places on the July cohort are fully funded.

There are 18 places available in this cohort. To ensure this opportunity is shared as widely as possible, we are inviting one applicant per organisation for the current cohort.

MHCLG logo

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 or volunteering in the homelessness sector. This information helps us determine whether you have the relevant work experience.
  • Your educational qualifications
    You will need to provide evidence of a Level 2 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?

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 July cohort?

  • Induction: Thursday 16 July, 10.00-1.00pm
  • Session 1: Wednesday 22 July, 9.30am-4.00pm
  • Session 1 support session: Thursday 6 August, 1.30pm – 4.30pm
  • Session 2: Wednesday 9 September, 9.30-4.00pm
  • Session 2 support session: Thursday 24 September, 10.00-1.00pm
  • Session 3: Thursday 15 October, 9.30am-4.30pm
  • Session 3 support session: Wednesday 28 October, 10.00am-1.00pm
  • Session 4: Wednesday 25 November, 9.30am-4.30pm
  • Session 4 support session: Wednesday 9 December, 10.00am-1.00pm

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 Moodle and key information related to the course assignments.

Can I apply for a later cohort?

We will also be running further fully funded cohorts later this year, each with a similarly limited class size. And we intend to offer additional cohorts beyond these, although the funding arrangements for these may vary.

If you have any questions, please contact Homeless Link's Senior Qualifications Manager, Will Vaughan - call on 07949 892 368 or email qualifications@homelesslink.org.uk.

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

For this cohort, we’re accepting one applicant per organisation so we can share the fully funded places as widely as possible.

If your organisation has multiple interested staff, they are very welcome to apply for future cohorts later in the year.

Hear from past delegates

St Martins share their experience of taking part in the qualification.

Talk To Us

6M5A2265

Will Vaughan

Senior Qualifications Manager