Start anytime and go at your own pace - The Self-paced Social Housing Compass Course
Following the feedback from our pilot 'Social Housing Compass' courses, we now also offer it as a self-paced open-access course which learners can start at any time and complete at their own speed, with no time limitations. Learners will receive full on-going tutor support during their enrolment, and assistance in tailoring the learning material to their own needs.
The course is accessible via LearnHousing's Virtual Learning Centre, so organisations do not need to invest in any additional technical infrastructure.
Who will benefit from taking part?
- Staff and Board Members entirely new to the Social Housing Sector
- Those with some work experience, or those working in specialised roles within Housing organisations, who would like a better overview of the Social Housing structure and agenda
Read what participants from the pilot courses in May and June 2005 have to say by clicking here or see a comment from our first self-paced learner:
As information resource the course is - excellent.
Supported Housing Scheme Manager
Content & course objectives:
The aim of this 3-stage course is to provide participants with a basic understanding of the key issues and current developments in Social Housing.
During the course, learners will be provided with key information about the history of Social Housing, its functions, structures and key players, current issues and latest developments. Issues to be looked into will include:
- Basic Social Housing jargon
- How Social Housing developed
- Current status and role of Social Housing
- How Housing Associations are structured and how they function
- Difference and relationship between local authority Social Housing and Housing Associations (including stock transfer)
- Key players in the Social Housing sector
- Current political circumstances that influence Social Housing
- Social housing funding & new developments
- Burning issues in Social Housing
- Where to find further information on Social Housing and how to use it effectively
Structure & Delivery mode:
The above subjects are organised and delivered in 3 modules:
Module 1 focuses on Social Housing providers, their history and current role
Module 2 focuses on other key players and their influential role in the sector (Housing Corporation, Audit Commission, ODPM, Regional bodies, NHF, CIH)
Module 3 focuses on various topical housing matters (development, supported housing, etc.) and information & knowledge sources in Social Housing and related subjects
One of the benefits of this course is that the learning material provided is not static, but highly dynamic. Information is regularly updated and references to current developments in housing, topical news reports and relevant new publications are added on an on-going basis.
The course is not just about the transfer of information and knowledge from experts to novices. The real aim, as the title of the course suggests, is to provide direction to participants. This enables them to develop their own roadmap for future information quests, Social Housing explorations and continuous learning beyond the duration of the course.
To achieve this participants will be guided in getting hands-on experience in effectively using existing information resources, connecting to professional networks and interest groups, and
developing their own action plan for further learning.
The course will also include activities that provide participants with a chance to critically reflect on the information received, and to assess how the past, present and future of Social Housing in general relates to their organisation and their role at work.
A further key benefit is that with the help of a tutor learners can tailor the course to their special needs – instead of having to take a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
How much time will it take to participate?
Ideally participants should allow an average of three hours per week for taking part in the course, which will allow them to complete it in about 3-5 weeks. However, there is no upper limit on how long they take to finish the course – a tutor will work with learners to create and operate with a schedule that meets their personal needs.
What resources and infrastructure are required to take part?
To take part in the course participants need regular access to:
· E-mail
· Internet
Internet access is required to access the course ‘class room’ at the LearnHousing Virtual Learning Centre. Most of the learning material can be used online or downloaded for offline-use, but participants are asked to explore other material and links via the World Wide Web. High-speed Internet access is not required, but a good connection will make it easier and more convenient to take part.
What skills and knowledge are required?
Participants don’t need any special Internet or other IT expertise to take the course. It is only necessary that they are familiar with using common software applications like word processing (e.g. Word), e-mail, and that they know how to browse the Internet.
At the beginning of the course, participants will receive further information to help them to navigate the course environment with ease and efficiency – and they will also receive personal support by the tutor(s).
What are the costs?
The course is offered at a price of £175 per learner, which provides unlimited access and tutor support until all modules of the course are completed. Upon completion, learners will receive lifetime membership of LearnHousing’s ‘Compass Community’, a virtual community/webspace for discussions and updates on topical Social Housing issues.
Organisations enrolling three or more learners at the same time pay only £150 per participant.
How to enrol?
Email us by clicking here to request a booking form and further information about payment.
To go back to the full course list click here.
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