CIH Level 4 Certificate in Homelessness Services Management

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, co production, 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

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

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.

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.