The programme for frontline workers in the homelessness sector

Changing Lives is delivering an exciting training programme designed specifically for frontline workers in the homeless sector. We are running a course in Newcastle on the dates below.

The level 3 Award has been developed by the Chartered Institute of Housing and aims to create a sector standard for support workers in developing their approach to gaining successful outcomes for their clients. The development of this programme supports the Homeless Link survey (Survey of Needs and Provision 2009) which revealed that 89% of respondents wanted to see an industry standard for the sector.

Successful completion of the programme leads to the CIH Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Homeless People (QCF).

The qualification is an introductory vocational qualification for the housing sector, which is broadly comparable to an A-level standard or an NVQ Level 3.

Programme Content

The course has three key elements:

•Half day induction and attendance at four training days

•A personal development programme which builds on your learning from the training days and your career to date

• Assessed work

The programme has four modules

Module 1 – Professional Practice Skills for Housing

This module encourages you to look critically at ways of working and aims to equip you with an understanding of your responsibilities as a professional delivering services to vulnerable people. These professional standards should be at the heart of the way you approach your work. This element of the programme will highlight how to play a positive role in your organisation and with clients as well as focusing on how you can ensure that you recognise and act on your own development needs.

Module 2 - Involving Housing Services Users

This module examines the role of service user involvement in developing services for homeless people and highlights how service user involvement can contribute to the improvement of services as well as the links of this approach to key working and employability.

Module 3 – Homelessness Services and Prevention

This module examines the policy and practice context within which homelessness services operate. You will explore the range of organisations working on homelessness issues, learn about the importance of partnership working between these agencies and reflect on the role of frontline workers in your organisation.

Module 4 – The Role of the Support Worker for Independent Living

This module focuses on the role of the support worker in promoting independent living for people who are homeless. It examines the role of key working, how key workers can positively engage service users in a process of change and what key workers need to know about their operating environment to ensure that service users are safe and able to move on.

Organisational procedures for safeguarding individuals, such as the use of risk assessment techniques, are related to safeguarding and support planning

Programme Structure and Support

  • Attendance at four training days (plus a half day induction) these will be spread over a four month period.
  • Workbooks to support learners studies.
  • Submission of four assignments throughout the duration of the course.
  • One to one support from you course tutor throughout the programme, offering you guidance and feedback on the assignments.
  • A personal development plan which builds upon your learning from the training days and your career to date.

We know that you may not have studied for some time, we have structured the course to help you make the most of the opportunity, and the tutor in the programme is skilled at supporting peoplelike you to successfully complete the programme. In order to make the most of the course you will need to spend around 2 hours of project work per week.

On successful completion of the course you will receive a CIH Level 3 Certificate in Supporting Homelessness People and membership of the CIH.

Newcastle training dates:

Half day induction 5th February 2014

Module 1 (all day) 12th February 2014

Module 2 (all day) 12th March 2014

Module 3 (all day) 23rd April 2014

Module 4 (all day) 21st May 2014

Venue: Changing Lives, Textile House, Dukesway, Team Valley, Gateshead NE11 0LF

For more information please contact Val Nevin on 0191 2562913 or

The deadline for applications is 20th January 2014