What will you learn?
By looking at service delivery through a Trauma-informed and Strengths-based lens, the units of the course will enhance your knowledge of supporting people. The course aims to give you the skills to practically support someone who is experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness whilst understanding their needs and focusing on their strengths and personal goals.
The qualification explores core areas of homelessness and has four compulsory units:
- Unit 1: Homelessness services and prevention
- Unit 2: Role of the practitioner for independent living
- Unit 3: Engaging people with lived experience of homelessness
- Unit 4: Professional practice skills for housing
Homeless Link trainers will deliver four sessions during the course and CIH Housing Academy tutors will assess and provide feedback on the written assignments that you will be required to submit for each unit. These assignments are designed to enable you to demonstrate your knowledge in relation to the four qualification units listed above.
For more details about the units take a look at the qualification overview and the course specification.
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
Key course dates
We currently have two cohorts open for application.
We'll do our best to accommodate your preferences, but please understand that placement in your preferred cohort depends on availability. Once you're assigned, we won't be able to accommodate requests for switching cohorts.
Cohort 2
- Induction 28 May
- Unit 1: Homelessness Services and Prevention 5 June
- Unit 2: Role of the Practitioner in Supporting Independent Living 17 July
- Unit 3: Engaging People with Lived Experience of Homelessness 11 September
- Unit 4: Professional Practice Skills for Housing 23 October
Cohort 3
- Induction 10 June
- Unit 1: Homelessness Services and Prevention 18 June
- Unit 2: Role of the Practitioner in Supporting Independent Living 13 August
- Unit 3: Engaging People with Lived Experience of Homelessness 24 September
- Unit 4: Professional Practice Skills for Housing 5 November
How to apply
- Download all the documents below and have a good look through them and ask your manager to look through them too.
- Check that you’re available to attend the induction and training dates.
- Complete the online application form linked below and submit by 22 April.