Chartered Institute Of Housing

CIH Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services

A recognised qualification designed for professionals who support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, providing the specialist knowledge, practical skills and confidence needed to deliver effective homelessness services and achieve positive outcomes.

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Develop your career with the CIH Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services

Invest In Your Future With Kingdom Academy's Trusted Programmes with the Chartered Institute Of Housing

The CIH Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services is a recognised qualification designed for professionals working with people who are experiencing homelessness or may be at risk of losing their home. The programme develops the knowledge and skills required to understand the causes of homelessness, provide effective support, engage people with lived experience and contribute to successful homelessness prevention. It also explores the professional values, principles and responsibilities that underpin high-quality homelessness and independent living services.

At Kingdom Academy, we deliver this programme through a practical and flexible learning approach focused on real-world application. Learners will explore the statutory framework surrounding homelessness, the services and accommodation available, approaches to prevention, safeguarding, partnership working and the role of practitioners in supporting people towards greater independence.

Whether you are formalising your existing experience or looking to strengthen your specialist knowledge, this qualification will equip you to make a meaningful difference to people experiencing homelessness.

Individual Enrolment Investment: £995 +VAT

For groups of 12 or more, we offer an exclusive in-house training programme tailored to your organisation’s needs. Get in touch to discuss your requirements and receive a tailored quotation.

Key benefits of the programme include:

  • Complete the qualification within five months
  • Flexible roll-on, roll-off start dates
  • Only four mandatory units
  • Delivered by subject matter experts with over 10 years of housing sector experience
  • Achievement rates exceeding the national average
  • A recognised qualification from the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH)

Why You Should Choose
Kingdom Academy...

Fast-track your career. Build your expertise. Make a difference with Kingdom Academy.

Who Is This Programme For?

The CIH Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services is designed for people working within housing, homelessness, support or related services who want to develop their specialist knowledge and improve the support they provide.

It is particularly suitable for homelessness officers, housing options officers, support workers, tenancy sustainment officers, independent living practitioners and other professionals whose roles involve supporting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The qualification is recommended for learners who are working in the housing or homelessness sector and who have either completed a Level 2 qualification or already have relevant experience. CIH does not set formal entry requirements, allowing learners’ experience, potential and opportunity to complete the programme to be considered as part of the enrolment process.

Your Learning Journey...

Stage One

Eligibility & Enrolment

Starting your journey right

  • Complete your enrolment process and receive all the necessary course materials.
  • Attend an induction session to understand the course structure, learning objectives, and assessment requirements.
  • Meet your dedicated Kingdom Academy tutor who will support you throughout the programme.

🔑 Key Outcome: Clear understanding of the programme and your pathway to success.

Stage One

Stage Two

Pre-Course Preparation

Setting yourself up for success

  • Access pre-course materials to familiarise yourself with key concepts.
  • Reflect on your current knowledge and experience to identify areas for development.
  • Set personal learning goals to maximise the impact of your studies.

🔑 Key Outcome: Prepared and ready to engage in your learning journey.

Stage Two

Stage Three

Core Learning Workshops

The core learning phase consists of interactive workshops and tutorials covering the four mandatory units within the qualification. Sessions will explore the causes and prevention of homelessness, engagement with people who have lived experience, professional housing practice and the practitioner’s role in supporting independent living.

📋 Key Topics Covered:

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

🔑 Key Outcome: Learners will gain specialist knowledge and practical tools to support people experiencing homelessness, contribute to prevention and deliver high-quality services.

Stage Three

Stage Four

Application in Practice

Learners will be encouraged to apply their new knowledge directly within their roles. This stage focuses on translating learning into practice when supporting individuals, engaging customers, working with partner organisations and responding to the different factors that can place people at risk of homelessness.

📋 What to Expect:

  • Applying new knowledge to workplace situations
  • Exploring the personal and structural factors that contribute to homelessness
  • Considering the suitability of different accommodation and support options
  • Using partnership working and safeguarding approaches to help prevent homelessness
  • Supporting individuals to identify and work towards their needs, goals and aspirations
  • Receiving constructive feedback from tutors, mentors and colleagues

🔑 Key Outcome: Learners will build confidence in applying their knowledge and see the practical impact of their learning within homelessness and housing services.

Stage Four

Stage Five

Assignments & Portfolio Development

Throughout the programme, learners will complete written assignments and build a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate their competency across the qualification standards.

📋 What to Expect:

  • Completing written assignments for each module
  • Collecting evidence of knowledge, skills, and behaviours
  • Documenting practical achievements and workplace applications

🔑 Key Outcome: Learners will have a comprehensive portfolio showcasing their housing expertise and readiness for assessment.

Stage Five

Stage Six

Progress Reviews & Mentoring

Regular progress reviews with a Kingdom Academy mentor ensure learners stay on track and meet key milestones. These one-to-one sessions provide personalised guidance and support.

📋 What to Expect:

  • Regular one-to-one meetings with a mentor
  • Reviewing progress and setting next steps
  • Addressing challenges and identifying solutions

🔑 Key Outcome: Learners will feel fully supported throughout their learning journey, with clear guidance to help them succeed.

Stage Six

Stage Seven

Final Submission & Qualification Award

Once learners have completed all assignments and their portfolio, they will make their final submission for review. Upon successful completion, they will be awarded the CIH Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services.

📋 What to Expect:

  • Final submission of assignments and portfolio
  • Review by Kingdom Academy tutors
  • Official awarding of the qualification by the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH)

🔑 Key Outcome: Learners will achieve a recognised qualification that supports career progression and further study opportunities within the housing sector.

Stage Seven

Stage Eight

Post-Completion & Progression

What’s next?

  • Celebrate your achievement and reflect on your learning journey.
  • Explore opportunities for further development, such as progression to additional leadership training.
  • Apply your new skills to continue driving positive change in your organisation and the housing sector.

🔑 Key Outcome: Continued personal and professional growth beyond the qualification.

Stage Eight
CIH Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services

Develop the specialist skills to support people experiencing homelessness

Delivered through live learning sessions, tutor support and practical assignments, the CIH Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services gives learners a comprehensive understanding of homelessness, prevention, professional practice and independent living support.

The programme explores how personal circumstances and wider structural factors can contribute to homelessness, alongside the statutory responsibilities of local authorities and the different accommodation and support services available. Learners will also examine how partnership working, safeguarding and early intervention can help prevent homelessness.

The four core modules include:

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

These modules are designed to help learners build confidence in managing housing services, improve performance within their roles, and gain the knowledge required to advance their careers in the housing sector. The practical, real-world focus ensures learners can apply their learning directly to their day-to-day responsibilities to drive positive outcomes.

Testimonials

Flourished in my line of work...

"I have seen development in my confidence and have flourished in my line of work, the support from Kingdom Academy is undeniable in the help to peruse and achieve this qualification. The courses have helped develop a broad understanding of housing and how all the modules tie in together.

My ATC Wendy Gray was outstanding her support and advice helped my development throughout my apprenticeship this was paired with Angela Freemans expertise and valuable critical feedback in order to reflect and analyse ways of improvement in my assignments and building my knowledge within each specified area.
Mitchell Sutcliffe
2024

Essential Information

All the important information you need to move forward with confidence.

The CIH Level 3 Certificate in Providing Homelessness Services is a nationally recognised vocational qualification for professionals working within housing and homelessness services. It develops the knowledge and understanding required to support people experiencing homelessness and contribute to effective prevention and independent living services.

The qualification is suitable for people working in housing, homelessness, support or related services. This may include: 

  • Homelessness officers,
  • Housing options officers
  • Support workers
  • Tenancy sustainment officers
  • Independent living practitioners.

The course is delivered through a blended learning approach, combining:

  • Interactive workshops
  • Self-directed study
  • One-to-one mentoring

Workshops are typically delivered at regular intervals to keep learners engaged and on track. The course also includes written assignments and practical activities to reinforce learning.

CIH does not set formal entry requirements. However, it recommends that learners are working within the housing or homelessness sector and have completed a Level 2 qualification or have relevant professional experience.

The four mandatory units include:

Homelessness services and prevention

Explore how people can become homeless, the statutory framework governing homelessness services and the accommodation, support and preventative measures available to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Engaging people with lived experience of homelessness

Understand the importance and benefits of involving people with lived experience in the development and delivery of services. Learners will examine different forms of engagement, from communication and consultation through to co-creation and co-production.

Professional practice skills for housing

Develop the professional skills, knowledge and behaviours required to work effectively within housing. This unit covers professionalism, ethics, equality, diversity and inclusion, reflective practice, feedback and professional development.

Role of the practitioner in supporting independent living

Explore the values and principles underpinning independent living support, including professional boundaries, information and guidance, social and developmental needs, settling into new environments and safeguarding individuals from danger, harm or abuse.

The qualification typically takes 5 months to complete. However, the timeline can vary based on the learner’s pace and availability to complete assignments.

Yes, this is a CIH-accredited qualification that is widely recognised across the housing sector. 

The course focuses on practical learning that can be applied directly in housing roles. While there are no formal work placement requirements, learners are encouraged to reflect on their real-life housing or homelessness experiences to complete their assignments.

Yes, Kingdom Academy offers in-house cohorts for organisations that wish to enrol multiple employees. This option can be tailored to meet the specific needs of the organisation.

Learners may progress to the CIH Level 3 Certificate in Housing or, where they have suitable experience and previous study, the CIH Level 4 Certificate in Housing.

Successful learners may also apply for certified practitioner membership of CIH.

To apply for the course or learn more about upcoming start dates, please click the enrol button or  complete the enrolment enquiry form below, and a member of our team will get in touch with you to discuss your options and next steps.

Ready To Enrol?

To apply for the course or learn more about upcoming start dates, complete the enrolment enquiry form below, and a member of our team will get in touch with you to discuss your options and next steps.