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:
- Homelessness services and prevention
- Role of the practitioner for independent living
- Engaging people with lived experience of homelessness
- Professional practice skills for housing
Upon successful completion of the course, you will earn a vocational qualification equivalent to an A-level standard.
Please see the full Qualification specification below which details all of the learning outcomes and assessment criteria of the qualification.
Qualification Specification-CIH Level 3 Providing Homelessness Services
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.
If you are applying for a funded place, specific requirements of the funder can be found via this page and the application form.
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
you can be in a voluntary role but we do not currently have a funded offer for volunteers
AND
have completed a Level 2 qualification (equivalent to GCSE) or higher. This does not have to be a housing qualification but is intended to demonstrate the ability to learn at Level 3.
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 (or budget holder/L&D lead, if they are best placed) to agree to protected study time for the course.
In addition to the delivered sessions we recommend a minimum of 1 hour of protected study time a day (or a weekly average of 7 hours), during working hours, for the duration of the qualification. This is an average figure based on the total qualification time divided by the number of weeks. We advise that applicants discuss their individual learning needs with their relevant manager and agree a plan before application.
If you are applying for a funded place, the protected study time is an essential requirement for an offer of place.
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 considered for 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. We are required to assess your suitability to learn and study at Level 3. - 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. If you're applying for a funded place they (or the budget holder/best placed person) will also need to provide a statement as to why you require funding.
How much time do I need to commit to this qualification?
This course takes place over 20 weeks via online delivery.
In addition to the delivered sessions we recommend a minimum of 1 hour of protected study time a day (or a weekly average of 7 hours), during working hours, for the duration of the qualification. This is an average figure based on the total qualification time divided by the number of weeks. We advise that applicants discuss their individual learning needs with their relevant manager and agree a plan before application.
If you are applying for a funded place, the protected study time is an essential requirement for an offer of place.
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. You will need access to a computer with a camera and microphone, and a computer to study to write your assignments on. You will need access to a quiet space to study for both the delivered sessions and self-study.
If you have any reasonable adjustments we will meet with you to discuss them but we also recommend that you have a discussion with your manager around ensuring your individual study or educational needs are met. This could be via assistive technology or increased/amended protected time for the course.
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 upcoming 2027 cohorts?
January 2027 cohort
Induction session: Monday 11th January 2027 (10.00am-1.00pm)
Unit 1 Delivery session: Monday 18th January (9.30am-4.30pm)
Unit 1 Learner support session: Monday 1st February (10.00am-1.00pm)
Unit 2 Delivery session: Monday 1st March (9.30am-4.30pm)
Unit 2 Learner support session: Monday 15th March (10.00am-1.00pm)
Unit 3 Delivery session: Monday 12th April (9.30am-4.30pm)
Unit 3 Learner support session: Monday 26th April (10.00am-1.00pm)
Unit 4 Delivery session: Monday 18th May (9.30am-4.30pm)
Unit 4 Learner support session: Monday 1st June (10.00am-1.00pm)
February 2027 cohort
Induction session: Thursday 11th February (10.00am-1.00pm)
Unit 1 Delivery session: Thursday 18th February (9.30am-4.30pm)
Unit 1 Learner support session: Thursday 4th March (10.00am-1.00pm)
Unit 2 Delivery session: Thursday 1st April (9.30am-4.30pm)
Unit 2 Learner support session: Thursday 15th April (10.00am-1.00pm)
Unit 3 Delivery session: Thursday 22nd April (9.30am-4.30pm)
Unit 3 Learner support session: Thursday 6th May (10.00am-1.00pm)
Unit 4 Delivery session: Thursday 27th May (9.30am-4.30pm)
Unit 4 Learner support session Thursday 10th June (10.00am-1.00pm)
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?
This depends on the funding. If you are paying for learner enrollment several people can apply.
MHCLG:
No, unfortunately we can only accept one applicant per organisation, per qualification.
St Martin-in-the-Fields:
The funding is capped at a maximum of two learners per organisation. If you are an organisation making a request for two funded places this needs to be reflected in your statement as to funding need and the financial reason on the application form.
I work for a local authority, can I apply?
Yes, applications are open to people working in local authorities as well as charities, as long as you meet the entry requirements. For St Martin-in-the-Fields funding you would have to be in a frontline role holding a caseload working directly with clients and provide evidence of funding need in the application form.
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