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Start date Application closing date Duration Price
03 March 2025 17 February 2025 20 weeks £878 Apply now
28 April 2025 14 April 2025 20 weeks £878 Apply now

What is the Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services?

The Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services is a practice-based qualification and provides you with the knowledge and understanding required to support homeless people at an operational level.

Qualifications at this level will enable you to be an effective housing practitioner and will provide you with a broader understanding of how your organisation and others in the housing industry work.

Successful completion of the Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services will provide you with a vocational qualification of an equivalent standard to an A-level.

Who is this qualification for?

The Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services is aimed at frontline housing workers, and provides an excellent foundation in understanding housing services. It is ideal if you work with homeless people but want to expand your knowledge of housing practice in general.

Entry requirements

Experience requirements

You must also meet the follow criteria:

  • Are 18+
  • Are confident in using IT and have access to a computer.
  • Have the potential and opportunity to gain the qualification.
  • Are aware that this qualification will be assignment based as the Housing Academy’s chosen method of assessment and that other Centres may be approved for other assessment methodologies.
  • Are aware that they must demonstrate an understanding of all the Learning Outcomes to achieve each unit of study within the qualification.

Level 3 descriptors

Learners must have read the following level 3 descriptors that indicate the level that you must be working at to achieve the qualification and are confident that you are able to meet these requirements.

Knowledge descriptor

  • You have factual, procedural, and theoretical knowledge and understanding of a subject or field of work to complete tasks and address problems that while well-defines, may be complex and non-routine.
  • You can interpret and evaluate relevant information and ideas
  • You are aware of different perspectives or approaches within the area of study or work.

Skills descriptor

  • You can identify, select and use appropriate cognitive and practical skills, methods and procedures to address problems that while well-defined, may be complex and non-routine.
  • You can use appropriate investigation to inform actions.
  • You can review how effective methods and actions have been.

How long does it take?

  • Approximately 20 weeks, with an average of eight hours study a week.

What will you learn?

The qualification explores core areas of homelessness and has four mandatory units.

  • Homelessness services and prevention
  • Engaging people with lived experience of homelessness
  • Role of the practitioner in supporting independent living
  • Professional practice skills for housing.

Qualification units

Homelessness services and prevention

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Homelessness services and prevention

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the key factors that contribute to people becoming homeless
  • Understand the statutory framework for the provision of services to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness
  • Know about the accommodation types and services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness
  • Understand how homelessness may be prevented

Engaging people with lived experience of homelessness

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Engaging people with lived experience of homelessness

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the importance of engaging people with lived experience of homelessness
  • Understand the opportunities for engaging people with lived experience of homelessness
  • Understand how to apply engagement of people with lived experience of homelessness in a specific context.

Role of the practitioner in supporting independent living

View unit

Role of the practitioner in supporting independent living

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the values and principles that underpin support services for independent living
  • Understand the role of the practitioner in supporting identified needs, goals and aspirations of individuals
  • Understand the role of the practitioners in safeguarding individuals

Professional practice skills for housing

View unit

Professional practice skills for housing

In this unit, you will cover the following:

  • Understand the key skills required for the housing professional
  • Be able to assess own professional performance through reflective practice
  • Be able to manage and plan own professional developmen

How to apply

You can apply to study this qualification by selecting a start date from the table at the top of this page and completing our online application form. You will need to sign in or create a 'My CIH' account. You can find instructions below.

You will be asked to provide evidence of your qualifications and/or your experience of working in the housing sector as part of the application process.

You will be asked to select a payment option during the application process.

Creating a My CIH account

To create your account, visit My CIH page and click the 'Sign up now' link to follow the steps to create your account. You can read our step-by-step guide to creating an account.

If you already have a My CIH account, just follow the sign in by entering your email address and password as usual.

Are you having trouble logging in or creating your account? Please read our step-by-step guide or call our membership services team on 024 7685 1700 or email membership.services@cih.org.

Payment options
Individuals

Individuals or purchasers (making the booking on an individual’s behalf) booking onto all courses are required to pay their full fees within seven days of receipt of the invoice or prior to the start date* of the course.

Payment can be made by credit or debit card.

Failure to complete payment prior to the start date may mean that your course date will need to be changed or services stopped.

*The start date is the day of the advertised closing date for applications.

Organisations

If payment for fees is to be made by the individual’s organisation, a purchase order is required.

It is the individual’s responsibility to provide this to CIH at the time of booking so please ensure you have this to hand before you begin your application.

What can I expect as a CIH Housing Academy learner?

We will support you throughout your qualification, offering guidance when personal or work-related problems arise that may affect your studies.

  • At the beginning of the qualification you will be provided with a brief introduction to the qualification and information on how it is delivered, structured and assessed.
  • You will be allocated an academic tutor who will offer you support throughout your qualification.
  • You can contact your tutor through ‘Moodle messenger’ when logged in to our online learning platform, Moodle.
  • Your tutor will mark your assignments and give you feedback as well as providing you with advice and support on any academic issues.
  • You will be able to communicate and share ideas with other students via Moodle.
Get in touch
If you have any questions or if you'd like to register your interest in this qualification, please get in touch with us.
Meet our tutors
We have a team of tutors, who have a wealth of knowledge and experience, both in housing and education and will support you throughout your qualification.
Terms & conditions
You can read our full terms and conditions here.

View our range of CIH qualifications from Level 2 to Level 5, available to study online or online plus.