What will you learn?
This course aims to equip you with practical skills to support individuals who are rough sleeping, with a focus on understanding their needs, building relationships, and the operational role of outreach services. 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 rough sleeping through four compulsory units:
- Understanding rough sleeping and the role of outreach
- Building relationships with and advocating for people who are rough sleeping
- Understanding the operational role in a rough sleeping outreach service
- Professional practice skills for homelessness services
By the end of the course, you’ll have a stronger foundation to deliver effective, person‑centred outreach in any frontline setting and will earn a vocational qualification equivalent to an A-level standard.
Who is it for?
This qualification is ideal for client‑facing outreach workers and coordinators in paid roles looking to strengthen their practice and improve outcomes for people experiencing rough sleeping.
Typical learners include: street outreach workers, outreach coordinators, and team leaders
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, sector experts and people with lived experience 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:
- Understand the statutory framework for the provision of services to people experiencing rough sleeping
- Support people more effectively
- Build confidence in your practice
- Develop your knowledge and skills
- Develop your career and provide opportunities for further study
How will it benefit your organisation
This brand new qualification aims to recognise the vital work street outreach services 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
- Broaden the knowledge base
- 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.
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.
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 May cohort?
Induction: Monday 11 May 1.30pm-2.30pm
Session 1: Wednesday 13 May 2026 9.30am -4.00pm
Session 2: Wednesday 10 June 2026 9.30am-4.00pm
Session 3: Wednesday 8 July 2026 9.30am-4.00pm
Session 4: Wednesday 5 August 2026 9.30am-4.00pm
All sessions, including the induction session, 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.
Can I apply for a later cohort?
We will also be running three 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. To be the first to hear when new cohorts open, please register your interest here.
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.
I'm a volunteer for an outreach service, can I apply?
Due to funding requirements for the upcoming cohort, we are currently unable to accept volunteers onto this programme.
Talk To Us
