Strengthening your team’s expertise with the Housing Options Training Toolkit
Scotland’s Housing Network (SHN) is encouraging social landlords to invest in the professional development of their staff through the Housing Options Training Toolkit (HOTT) – a comprehensive, flexible learning resource designed to build confidence, capability and consistency in delivering housing options services.
As the role of housing professionals continues to evolve, there has never been a more important time to ensure staff are equipped with the knowledge and skills to support customers effectively. The HOTT offers a practical, structured approach to learning, supporting staff at all stages of their careers to develop the competencies needed to deliver high-quality, person-centred services.
A comprehensive CPD resource for your teams
The toolkit brings together a wide range of learning modules that reflect the breadth and complexity of housing options work in Scotland. These include:
- Introduction to Housing Options – covering the housing options approach, key homelessness legislation and person-centred practice.
- Accessing Housing – supporting informed decision-making and understanding housing systems, rights and responsibilities.
- Keeping People in Their Current Homes – focusing on prevention, sustainment and supporting customers through challenging circumstances.
- Health and Wellbeing – exploring the wider support needs that impact housing outcomes.
- Income and Affordability – addressing financial wellbeing, budgeting and managing arrears.
- Supporting Employability – helping staff connect customers to opportunities that improve long-term outcomes.
Each module is supported by detailed learning pathways, allowing organisations to tailor development to specific roles, experience levels, or service priorities.
Supporting high-quality, person-centred services
At its core, the Housing Options Training Toolkit promotes a person-centred approach, enabling staff to better understand individual circumstances and provide tailored advice and support.
By investing in the toolkit, organisations can:
- Build staff confidence in handling complex housing needs.
- Strengthen consistency in service delivery across teams.
- Support preventative approaches to homelessness.
- Enhance knowledge of legislation, rights and responsibilities.
- Embed continuous professional development within their organisation.
Flexible learning to suit your organisation
The HOTT is designed to be flexible and accessible, making it easy to incorporate into your existing learning and development programmes. Whether used for induction, refresher training or ongoing CPD, it provides a valuable resource to support both new and experienced staff. It is designed as a toolkit so users can dip in and out at any point in their learning journey.
Why invest in HOTT?
✔ Structured, high-quality CPD resource
✔ Aligned to Scottish policy and practice
✔ Supports staff at all levels
✔ Flexible and easy to implement
The toolkit has been developed, and is owned collectively by all 32 Scottish Local Authorities and Wheatley Homes Glasgow, and supported by Scottish Government. It is administered by SHN, but SHN does not have any ownership not intellectual property rights.
For more information see downloads below.