CIH Distance Learning Centre Study to suit your lifestyle Level 4 Certificate for the Housing Profession Enquiry pack September 2012 L4CHPr0912EQ
2 Contents Section 1 - Introduction 1.1 What is distance learning? 1.2 Applying for this course Section 2 - About the course 2.1 What is the Level 4 Certificate for the Housing Profession 2.2 Who is this course for? 2.3 What are the entry requirements for this course? 2.4 Additional information 2.5 Admissions process Section 3 Frequently asked questions 3.1 What will I receive when I register for this course? 3.2 What do I have to do to complete this course? 3.3 Syllabus and course structure 3.4 What support will I get to complete this course? 3.5 What does this course cost? 3.6 How long will it take me to complete this course? 3.7 How much time will I need to spend on the course? 3.8 What are the other benefits of learning with CIH? Section 4 - Application form guidance notes 4.1 Employment details 4.2 CIH equality and diversity monitoring 4.3 Learning support 4.4 Partnership centres 4.5 Fees & payments 4.6 Self-financing students 4.7 Financial help 4.8 Refunds policy Section 5 - Syllabus and Course Structure Page No. 3 4 6 8 11 All information in this pack is correct at the time of printing. Please be aware that we occasionally have to make changes to courses or the way we work during course planning.
3 Section 1 - Introduction 1.1 What is distance learning? Would you like flexibility to choose the qualification that is most appropriate to your work and personal commitments, career aspirations and finances? The Chartered Institute of Housing Distance Learning Centre can support you and your organisation through a range of qualifications. Our expert team of housing and education specialists design and deliver world-class qualifications. No-one is better placed to help you learn and stay ahead in the changing world of housing; to achieve your career aspirations with recognised and respected professional qualifications. By studying through distance learning, you will benefit from frequently updated course materials, assignments, information on study skills, topical news feeds and other links as well as a whole range of online resources that are all made easily accessible via your student website (called Moodle). We ensure our students receive an enhanced learning experience through on-going support from expert tutors by telephone, post, email and face to face events; as well as providing you with opportunities to interact with fellow students and the wider learning community through on-line discussion forums. As the UK s largest awarding organisation for housing qualifications you can be sure that learning with the CIH will develop your knowledge and understanding of current and rapidly changing issues facing the sector. You will be invited to complete on-line induction activities and attend an Induction Day at the start of your course. It is important that you attend this event which gives you the opportunity to meet the academic tutors - who will guide you through your first assignment, your fellow students as well as members of the CIH Distance Learning Team who will answer your specific queries regarding other aspects of the course. This event also aims to develop your skills in group working, communication and presentation. 1.2 Applying for this course Please ensure you have read this pack fully before completing your application form, making sure you are registered for the correct course and that you include either authority to invoice from your employers with a purchase order number or, if you are paying for the course yourself, your first instalment. Applications for this course should be sent to the address on the back of this enquiry pack by the registration closing date, 28 September 2012, at the latest. You can either complete a printed application form or download one from www.cih.org/distancelearning. Attendance at the Induction Day is important. Full details of this event will be sent to you nearer the time. You will be asked to confirm your attendance at the Induction Day upon your registration onto the course. If you are unable to attend you will then need to inform staff at CIH Distance Learning as soon as possible. If you require further details regarding this course contact us on 024 76 851789 or email dlc@cih.org.
4 Section 2- About this course 2.1 What is the Level 4 Certificate in the Housing Profession? The CIH Level 4 Certificate for the Housing Profession will serve as a foundation course for students who wish to study for the CIH Professional Qualification which leads to CIH Chartered Membership (CIHCM). The process of becoming a Chartered Member is made up of the following elements: Stage one is the Level 4 Certificate in the Housing Profession For graduates, stage two of the Professional Qualification is via the postgraduate route (the first two years of the MSc Housing Studies) If you are not a graduate stage two is the undergraduate route (the Professional Diploma in Housing and Sustainable Communities). 2.2 Who is this course for? The CIH Level 4 Certificate for the Housing Profession is aimed at graduates whose first degree has no direct link to housing or social policy (called a non-cognate degree) but who wish to study for the CIH Professional Qualification. It is also suitable for senior housing staff who do not have a degree but who have extensive housing or related experience with the right level of study skills and who wish to become professionally qualified. This programme will be of particular interest to middle managers and supervisors in local authorities, housing associations, government agencies, voluntary and private sector organisations. 2.3 What are the entry requirements for this course? You should hold a non-cognate degree (UK honours or equivalent), such as History or Science. You should be working in housing or in a related field at the time of applying. Or Hold an HNC/HND in a relevant subject and should be working in housing or in a related field at the time of applying. 2.4 Additional information: If you are not currently working within a housing organisation you can gain entry if you can provide evidence of a placement secured within the housing sector before you start and for the duration of the course Before you can be formally accepted onto the course, you may be requested to complete a pre-course assessment, for example an English proficiency test if your first language is not English and/or if your existing qualifications were achieved through studying with an overseas learning provider. We will let you know if this is the case when you submit your application form. You may be required to supply additional evidence e.g. relevant experience and ability to complete written assignments. This is so we can be sure the course is at the right level for you. If you are declined a place on a course you will have the right to appeal to the CIH Head of Learning. You must provide copies of all certificates with your application form.
5 If you are a non-uk/eu national but are still interested in applying to do the Level 4 qualifications, you could still be deemed to be eligible subject to your having a valid employment contract with a UK based company or organisation. Please contact CIH Distance Learning for further information, clarification and guidance. 2.5 Admissions process If you haven t provided us with all the information that we need to do this we may need to come back in order to check your eligibility. If we decide that you are not eligible for the programme we will explain why. It may be that you have not got the required qualifications or sufficient housing experience, or you don t have the correct visa to qualify as a home student. Where possible we will offer you an alternative course. Once we have satisfied ourselves that this is the right course for you we will let you know that you have been accepted onto the course. You will usually hear from us within two weeks. Useful contacts: OCR can provide a statement of your results - www.ocr.org.uk, telephone 01223 553 998 Edexcel can provide a duplicate certificate www.edexcel.org.uk, telephone 0870 240 9800 Please note there is a fee attached to the service for any of the above.
6 Section 3 Frequently asked questions 3.1 What will I receive when I register for this course? The Level 4 Certificate for the Housing Profession programme is a one year course. Upon your registration, you will receive: Login details for your student Moodle site and for access to your learning materials and assignment briefs a student handbook an invitation to an Induction day, and details of how to complete online induction activities. 3.2 What do I have to do to complete this course? To complete this course you will need to pass six assignments that will relate to what you have studied in your modules. Assignments are a way of testing whether you have achieved the learning outcomes of a particular module. They will also give you a chance to reflect on the issues you have been studying in more depth; previous students have told us that this has helped them to get a better understanding of how to use what they have learnt in their work. Assignments will be completed by you in accordance with the timetable in the CIH Student Guide. You will be able to talk to your tutor for advice during writing your assignments. You will also have the chance to discuss your assignments and how to approach them at the induction day associated with the course. 3.3 What is the syllabus and course structure? See section 5 of this document. 3.4 What support will I get to complete this course? The Distance Learning Centre has a number of ways to support and assist you throughout your course. At the beginning of the programme the induction day will give you a brief introduction of the course for example, how it is delivered, assessed and the support you will get from the CIH team. It also aims to cover those skills or areas which cannot be addressed by distance learning e.g. team work and presentation skills. On an on-going basis, You will be allocated an academic tutor who will offer you support throughout your course via email, telephone or correspondence Your tutor will mark your assignments, give you feedback as well as provide you with advice and support on any academic issues. You will be supported by staff from CIH Distance Learning throughout your course and who will offer guidance when personal/work-related problems arise which may affect your studies.
7 Important Note: Once you have enrolled and commenced your studies, if there is evidence that the course you have enrolled on is not the right course for you based on the study skills and aptitude you have demonstrated, it is possible that you will be advised to consider a transfer to an alternative, more suitable programme. 3.5 What does this course cost? The Level 4 Certificate for the Housing Profession costs 2000. This includes membership of the CIH for the duration of your course. 3.6 How long will it take me to complete this course? When you register for the Level 4 Certificate for the Housing Profession, you will be given one year to complete the programme. The one year period starts from the date you attend your induction day. 3.7 How much time will I need to spend on the course? On average, you would need to spend four to six hours per week studying for this course As a distance learning student you will need to ensure that you plan your time carefully so that you meet the deadlines involved. CIH will provide guidance, support and help by setting clear deadlines but you may need to think about how you are going to structure your study in order to maintain your motivation. Studying with us is flexible so it can fit around your day to day life but you will need to set aside the time needed to study, you ll have a chance to talk to other students about how best to approach this on the course induction day. 3.8 What are the other benefits of learning with CIH? As a student on a CIH course you will be eligible to become a CIH Member and to join a strong community of over 23,000 members throughout the UK and overseas. This membership is provided free of charge to those studying a CIH accredited course and will provide you with access to a range of resources that are invaluable to your academic studies. You will receive the Essential and Information packages inclusive as part of your membership. Here are just a couple of benefits you will receive: Inside Housing keep up to date with the news and current issues in the sector with your free copy of this trade press publication. News and Views receive the weekly e-zine from the CIH which brings together news, links to useful websites and developments both in the sector and at CIH Policy and Practice Focus our new quarterly bulletin will keep you informed about consultations, policy development and provide a way to get involved and be part of the credible voice of CIH.
8 Section 4 - Application guidance Before you complete your application form, please read these additional notes which will help guide you through the application process. 4.1 Employment details Please provide the address of your employer. Please include a contact telephone number, fax number and e-mail address (where appropriate) so we can contact you during the working day if necessary. If your employer has a head office and this is different from the address where you work, please provide the head office address. 4.2 CIH equality and diversity monitoring CIH is committed to ensuring that its services are accessible to everyone regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or age. We collect information about our students so that we can highlight any improvements needed in our service. 4.3 Learning Support Needs We want to make sure that you have the right support to successful complete the course so do this, it is important that you fill in this section in full, especially if you feel you have specific learning needs. If you do have learning support needs, in order to make sure you know what support we can offer we will send you a Learning Support Agreement which sets out the practical support we can offer you throughout your studies with us. Please read and sign the Learning Support Arrangement before your registration is finalised to ensure that the course you are applying for is the right one for you. 4.4 Partnership centres All students from England and Wales will be directly registered with CIH Distance Learning Centre. And for Scotland, with Dundee College. 4.5 Fees & payments The cost of the course is detailed in section 3.5 of this document. This includes membership of the CIH for one year. If your employer is paying for this course please ensure that the Declaration by employer section is fully completed and return this form with a purchase order number to the Distance Learning Centre at the CIH. If you are a non UK/EU national, you will still be able to enrol with CIH Distance Learning. Please contact us for further information and guidance. 4.6 Self-financing students If you are self financing you can either:
9 Enclose a cheque for the full amount. The cheque should be made payable to the Chartered Institute of Housing. If you are paying by credit card, please ring and give us the details after you have had confirmation that we have received your form. Please send the correct amount (if you do not send the correct amount there could be a delay in processing your application form). Or Pay by instalments: If you are paying by instalments, you will not have access to all your course material at once. With the first instalment you will have access to the first module only. When you require access to your next module you will need to contact DLC with payment details for your next instalment. We will then authorise you for accessing the module(s) you are paying for. Individuals who are paying for the course themselves can pay in instalments. 1st Instalment 2nd instalment 3rd instalment 1000 500 500 4.7 Financial help If course fees present you with an obstacle, there are a number of different sources of financial support for people who wish to undertake courses of education. CIH Butler Bursary Details will be available on our website http://www.cih.org/butlerbursary Positive Action Training in Housing (PATH) PATH National Ltd was set up in March 2000 following the merger of PATH London and PATH Local Authorities. PATH schemes are run by many organisations providing education and training for Black and Minority Ethnic people who wish to work in housing. For example, Sandwell MBC has run a PATH scheme for more than ten years. If you want to find out more about PATH schemes in an area near you, please contact PATH National Ltd, Path National Ltd, 73-81 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 0NQ, telephone 020 7939 9725 or email generalinfo@path.co.uk Family Welfare Association (FWA) The Family Welfare Association is another source of funding. It will consider applications from single parents, the disabled, and others. They award grants of up to 200. For further information call 020 7254 6251 after 10 am and ask for the Educational grant Advisory Service, or email fwa.headoffice@fwa.org.uk
10 Prospect Training Services This organisation is funded by the DFEE. Funding is provided for those wishing to embark upon adult work based learning. Applications are considered on an individual basis. For more information call 01452 507131/331500 or email info@prospect-traning.org.uk Learndirect Learndirect was launched in February 1998. It is a telephone help-line which helps callers with learning and career enquiries. The telephone number for Learndirect is 0800 100 900 or visit their website at www.learndirect.co.uk. 4.8 Refunds policy Our refunds policy is detailed below. All withdrawals from the course must be made in writing to the CIH Distance Learning Centre (address on the back of this enquiry pack). Stage Student has not attended Induction day /enrolled Student has not attended Induction day. Student has attended Induction day/enrolled and it is within 2 months of the closing date of 28 September 2012 Student has attended Induction day and it is more than 2 months of the closing date of 28 September 2012. Policy Full refund Full refund Full refund minus admin fee of 100 No refund
11 Section 5 - Syllabus and Course Structure The Level 4 Certificate for the Housing Profession is made up of the following units: Housing need, demand and supply Housing Policy Managing People Housing Economics and housing finance Housing Law Housing Management Services Unit 1 - Housing need, demand and supply Unit purpose and aims The unit aims to enable learners to explore the demographic profile of the UK and understand the impact this, and socio-economic factors, have on housing need, demand and supply. They will also examine a range of factors influencing local housing market strategies. Unit 2 - Housing Policy Unit purpose and aims The aim of this unit is to further learners understanding of housing policy in the UK by exploring its historical development and the relationships between different policy making bodies and their policy-making processes. It also enables learners to develop analytical skills; learning how to analyse and evaluate policies, in particular their intended outcomes and impacts. Unit 3 - Managing People Unit purpose and aims The unit explores how to manage people, through an understanding of human resource policy and practice, managing change and managing risk. Unit 4 - Housing Management Services Unit purpose and aims The purpose of the unit is to explore the key functions involved in housing management. Learners will also consider approaches to the provision of housing. The unit will also enable learners to examine a range of housing and housing related advice services.
12 Unit 5 - Housing Economics and Housing Finance Unit purpose and aims This unit requires learners to understand the processes the external sources of finance which housing organisations access. The unit also explores the wider financial environment of housing organisation and the affect of subsidy. Unit 6 - Housing Law Unit purpose and aims The unit aims to provide learners with an understanding of the legal system in relation to housing, specifically for the country they work in, but in a UK context. It explores the law in relation to landlords and tenants and requires learners to examine the application of the law in housing practice and homelessness,
13 Contact Chartered Institute of Housing Distance Learning Centre Octavia House Westwood Way Coventry CV4 8JP T: 024 7685 1789 F: 024 7669 4209 E: dlc@cih.org W: www.cih.org