Community Services and Development

SOCIAL HOUSING

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NSW Context

CHC40908 Certificate IV in social housing is the key qualification for housing workers providing direct client services in the social housing field. A range of skills and knowledge are required to work in this field include managing tenancies and leasehold properties, managing rental subsidies and rental arrears, responding to repairs and maintenance issues, community development  and working with other agencies to assist in supporting sustainable tenancies.

Housing workers also need skills to respond to diverse client need including work with clients who are at risk of homelessness and clients with complex needs. The qualification and the profession is underpinned by an understanding of social justice, the legal and ethical framework, and the historical and political context of the provision of public and community housing.

CHC40908 Certificate IV in Social Housing

Entry requirements: It is  recommended that candidates have experience working in community housing, public housing, the SAAP sector or real estate industry, or currently completing a traineeship or currently hold a position in a social housing related service.

 

CHC40808 Diploma of Social Housing

This qualification covers workers who are managing or coordinating services within public and community housing , and information and advice services to tenants and residents, applicants and the community, including clients who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

Workers at this level may be expected to lead and guide work groups and/or teams and may provide specialist advice to other workers. They may also coordinate or manage services, operations and /or whole organisations develop and coach staff and undertake more complex housing management work, including developing new business opportunities and working with the board of directors.

 

To gain entry into CHC50808 Diploma of Social Housing candidates must:

 

1.    Be recognised as competent, through a recognised training program or recognition process, against the following compulsory units of competency from CHC40908 Certificate IV in Social Housing:

CHCCH301A    Work effectively in social housing

CHCCH410A    Manage and maintain tenancy agreements and services

CHCCH427A    Work effectively with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness

 

OR

 

2.    Have sufficient relevant experience and knowledge of social housing work to indicate likely success at this level of qualification in a job role involving:

  • The application of knowledge with depth in some areas and demonstration of a broad range of technical and other skills
  • A wide range of tasks and roles in a variety of contexts, with complexity in the range and choices of actions required
  • The exercise of discretionary judgement and decision making under general guidance

 

Skills sets

It is important to note that the social housing skill set and Homelessness support skill set have been endorsed by industry as appropriate for people who hold a relevant qualification to enable the candidate to undertake work in the area addressed by the skill set.

 

Skill sets do not replace qualifications as the foundation for undertaking work in the community sector. They enable a qualified worker to move laterally into work areas addressed by the skill set or to broaden their skill base in relation to the services they provide

 

Social housing work skill set

Target group

This skill set has been endorsed by industry as appropriate for people who hold a community services qualification at Certificate IV level or higher or commensurate industry skills as evaluated through recognition of prior learning processes.

It provides a set of skills for assisting clients in social housing.

Units

CHCCH301A Work effectively in social housing

CHCCS504A Provide services to clients with complex needs

CHCCH410A Manage and maintain tenancy agreements and services

Pathway

These units provide credit towards the Certificate IV in Social Housing.

 

Homelessness support work skill set

Target group

This skill set has been endorsed by industry as appropriate for people who hold a community services qualification at Certificate IV level or higher or commensurate industry skills as evaluated through recognition of prior learning processes.

It provides a set of skills for working with clients who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness.

Units

CHCCH301A Work effectively in social housing

CHCCS504A Provide services to clients with complex needs

CHCCH427A Work effectively with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness

Pathway

These units provide credit towards the Certificate IV in Social Housing.

 

 

 

 

Qualifications and Pathways

CHC30508          Certificate III in Social Housing

CHC40908          Certificate IV in Social Housing

CHC40808          Diploma of Social Housing

 

Recognition

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is a significant pathway for candidates to attain a national training package qualification.  There has been strong support from Commonwealth and NSW governments for RTOs to find innovative and accessible RPL strategies and approaches. 

 

NSW Department of Education and Training is actively assisting this quest for improved RPL pathways and has worked in partnership across many industry sectors to pilot best practice models of recognition and develop supporting resources.   Some of the innovation recognition pathways trialled included group, project and workplace based models. 

 

Resources and further details are available at https://www.skillsonline.net.au/coagrpl_catalogue.html  

 

Traineeships

The Vocational Training Board establishes traineeships in NSW.  Through a consultative process between peak industry groups, employers and unions, facilitated by the ITAB, qualifications are identified that meet industry requirements and have appropriate award arrangements.  This information is submitted to the Board for the declaration of a vocational training order in accordance with NSW legislation.

 

 As qualifications have a vocational training order established, they are posted on the NSW DET Commissioner’s Bulletin.  Further advice is available from NSW DET http://apprenticeship.det.nsw.edu.au/index1.htm  

 

Current Social Housing traineeships in NSW are:

CHC30508          Certificate III in Social Housing

CHC40908          Certificate IV in Social Housing

 

CHC40908 Certificate IV in Social Housing is recognised by NSW industry sector as appropriate for new and existing trainees employed by state and not for profit social housing providers.

 

 

VET in Schools

The Social Housing qualifications in the CHC08 Community Services Training Package have not been identified as suitable for VET in Schools pathways.

For more information about VET in Schools in NSW visit: https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/vetinschools/

The NSW Board of Studies is responsible for the inclusion of training package qualifications in the HSC studies. Further information is available at www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au .

 

 

Peak Bodies and Key Stakeholders

NSW Federation of Housing Associations

NSW Federation of Housing Associations (NSWFHA) is the peak body for community housing associations in NSW.

Community Housing Federation of Australia

The Community Housing Federation of Australia (CHFA) is the national peak organisation representing the views of community housing providers in Australia. 

 

 

Housing NSW

Housing NSW, as the statutory authority for public housing in NSW, is the largest provider of social housing in NSW.

 

 

 

Resources

 

Please contact NSW Community Services and Health ITAB regarding training and assessment resource needs for the qualifications or skills sets in this industry sector.

 

Other resources may be available from industry peaks, National Training Information Service (NTIS), Registered Training Organisations and Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council.

 

 

            


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