Level 5 Diploma in Housing

The CIH Awarding Organisation does not set entry requirements for its qualification. It stipulates that it may be beneficial for a learner to have one or some of the following:
· Experience working in the housing or a housing-related industry, preferably at a strategic or management level.

· Achieved a level 4 qualification previously.
· Completed a management qualification.
· Completed a housing qualification such as the CIH Level 4 Certificate in Housing or a qualification from a related sector.

A blended delivery model combining remote learning with six full day face-face teaching sessions delivered locally in HICSA and/or in local housing provider offices in the North-East of England. There will be one face-to-face teaching session for each of the units supplemented by webinars delivered to a group of students. Recordings of the webinars to be available in Microsoft Teams. Teaching staff to facilitate online one-to-one meetings every four to six weeks to discuss the course content, progress with assessments and any required additional support and guidance.

Site visits relevant to the course content arranged in consultation with SHINE (Social Housing Innovation North-East) housing providers and facilitated by the college to enable practical work-based research. Progress review meetings held with housing providers every quarter to review learner performance and discuss any issues or concerns. A blended assessment approach will be adopted using a range of methods approved by the CIH AO and include academic posters, presentations, professional practice portfolios, professional discussions, and research reports. Research reports will have practical work-based themes and word count limits restricted to 3,500 words dependent upon the range of the learning outcomes and assessment criteria. Learners will work collaboratively to conduct research tasks and submit their own work within Microsoft Teams for assessment.

The expectation is that learners will have Level 2 Mathematics and English. The CIH Awarding Organisation does not set entry requirements for its qualification.

We are working in partnership with SHINE – Social Housing Innovation North-East to deliver housing qualifications. SHINE is a working group comprising the following local housing providers:
· Believe Housing
· Beyond Housing
· Bernicia
· Gentoo
· Karbon Homes

We are working with SHINE to deliver CIH Level 4 Certificate in Housing and CIH Level 5 Diploma in Housing. We anticipate to support one annual cohort of learners for each qualification over the next three to four years.

Learners must achieve seven units (38 credits) in total, consisting of seven mandatory units to be awarded the qualification. The recommended guided learning hours for the qualification are 79 hours. The total qualification time is expected to be 30 hours.

The qualification aims to provide knowledge and skills in professionalism, ethics, leadership, strategic planning for housing, customer focused housing services, and managing partner relationships, which are required to manage housing services at a strategic or executive level.

The qualification is suitable for learners who:
· Are currently working in or aspiring to a strategic senior housing management or executive role in housing.
· Have a level 4 qualification and/or experience of working in a management / strategic role in housing.

Mandatory units:

· Ethical practice in housing – Unit reference Y/651/4190
· Leadership and management in housing – Unit reference A/651/4191
· Strategic and business planning for housing organisations – Unit reference D/651/4192
· Housing in context – Unit reference F/651/4193
· Managing partner relationships in housing – unit reference H/651/4194
· Customer focused housing services and communication – Unit reference J/651/4195
· Professionalism in housing – Unit reference Y/651/3056