Project Manager

Project Manager – Children’s Residential (Start-Up)

Organisation: Bedford Borough Council
Contract: Initial 3-month contract (likely extension)
Hours: 37 hours per week
Rate: £550 per day (Umbrella) / £425 per day (PAYE, exclusive)
Location: Bedford (hybrid working may be available)

The Role
Bedford Borough Council is seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead the set-up, Ofsted registration, and opening of a new children’s home.

This is a critical role where you will take full ownership of the mobilisation phase—ensuring the home, staffing, policies, and operational systems are fully compliant with the Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015, associated Quality Standards, and Ofsted’s registration and inspection framework.

You will lead the project through to registration readiness and hand over to the Manager for Children’s Residential Services, providing a clear, structured project plan for final delivery and ongoing operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end mobilisation and set-up of a children’s residential home
• Drive the Ofsted registration process (including SC1/SC2 submissions and supporting documentation)
• Develop and implement a comprehensive project plan, ensuring delivery within a 4-month timeframe
• Ensure full compliance with:
  • Children’s Homes Regulations 2015
  • Ofsted registration and inspection requirements
  • Quality Standards framework
• Oversee:
  • Safer recruitment and staffing readiness
  • Safeguarding frameworks aligned to statutory guidance
  • Policies, procedures, and governance structures
  • Health & Safety and risk assessments
• Prepare the service to be inspection-ready
• Manage stakeholders including internal teams, Ofsted, and partner agencies
• Deliver a structured handover to the permanent operational lead

Essential Experience

• Proven experience managing start-up or mobilisation projects within children’s residential care, fostering, or similar regulated settings
• Strong working knowledge of:
  • Ofsted registration processes
  • Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and Quality Standards
• Demonstrable experience delivering services to inspection readiness
• Experience implementing safeguarding frameworks and safer recruitment processes
• Strong programme/project management skills with the ability to deliver to tight deadlines

Desirable

• Experience working with or alongside Registered Managers / Responsible Individuals
• Relevant project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, AgilePM)
• Background within a local authority or public sector environment

Why Apply?
This is a high-impact opportunity to play a pivotal role in delivering a new children’s home from concept to reality—directly contributing to improved outcomes for vulnerable children.

Apply Now
If you have the experience to lead a children’s home mobilisation through to successful Ofsted registration, we’d like to hear from you.