CIH launch new Scottish neighbourhood maintenance qualification

The Chartered Institute of Housing have launched a new SCQF level 5 qualification in neighbourhood maintenance for Scotland.

The new vocational qualification is targeted at people aspiring to or working in the housing sector in a maintenance role. The course provides learners with the skills and knowledge required to maintain communal areas of housing estates and neighbourhoods professionally and safely to a high standard.

The course covers five mandatory units, which must all be passed to achieve the qualification. These include:

• Portray a positive personal image
• Clean and maintain external surfaces and areas
• Clean glazed surfaces and facades
• Assist with the maintenance of grass surfaces
• Safe operation of powered garden machinery.

Callum Chomczuk, director of CIH Scotland welcomed the new qualification commenting:

“CIH Scotland are delighted to be able to provide this new vocational qualification for Scottish housing professionals. Across the sector we have seen a recognition that we need to invest in ourselves, because its only by investing in ourselves that we’ll be able to meet the challenging and the rightful expectations that we have from tenants.

“This qualification provides a formal qualification to allow people working in housing maintenance across Scotland to be recognised for the professional work they do in maintaining tenant’s homes. “

Regulated and accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) a SCQF level 5 qualification requires the learner to demonstrate an equal level of knowledge and/or skill to achieve their certificate as a level 2 qualification regulated by Ofqual (England), Qualifications Wales (QW), or CCEA (Northern Ireland).

The qualification is available to be delivered through a range of approved study centres and the CIH Housing Academy.