Discovery Recovery Worker - Compass Recovery College

18.5 Hours per week - Part Time - Permanent

Are you passionate about mental health and wellbeing and want to help people feel more confident, connected and able to take positive steps towards recovery?

We are looking for a Discovery Recovery Worker to join Compass Recovery College and lead our early engagement and outreach work. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building relationships with people who may not yet be ready for structured support and who is passionate about developing creative, recovery-focused approaches for underserved communities.

A key part of the role will be contributing to the future development of recovery-focused mental health and wellbeing provision for children and young people in Reading.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We support hybrid working, it’s important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and within this role you’ll have the opportunity to work in a way that suits your lifestyle.
About The Role:
To find out more about Compass Recovery College visit: https://www.compassrecoverycollege.uk/

Compass Recovery College offers free mental health and wellbeing workshops to people across Reading. Our approach is built around recovery, co-production and lived experience, creating safe spaces where people can develop knowledge and skills, build confidence and connect with others.

This is a developmental and outward-facing role focused on reaching people who may not traditionally access mental health support.

You will work within communities, alongside people with lived experience, to design and deliver taster sessions, outreach activities and informal engagement opportunities that reduce barriers to participation and build confidence towards recovery.

The role will also contribute to shaping future recovery pathways, including emerging work focused on children and young people's mental health and wellbeing.

As a Discovery Recovery Worker, you will play an important role in making that first connection.

As a Discovery Recovery Worker, you will:

• Build supportive and respectful relationships with participants.
• Deliver outreach and community engagement activities.
• Develop and facilitate taster sessions and low-threshold engagement opportunities.
• Support people to access and attend Recovery College workshops.
• Work collaboratively with volunteers, peer support workers and mental health professionals.
• Promote inclusive access for under-represented communities.
• Contribute ideas to improve and expand recovery-focused services.
• Play a key role in developing and testing recovery-focused approaches that could inform provision for children and young people.
• Build links with community organisations, youth-focused services and partners to improve engagement and accessibility for younger people.
• Identify gaps in participation and help design innovative engagement approaches for under-represented groups, including children and young people.

About You:
We’re looking for someone who can connect with people in a warm, approachable and non-pressured way.

You’ll have an understanding of the impact of mental health difficulties, stigma and discrimination, together with experience of supporting people on their recovery or wellbeing journey.

We would particularly welcome applications from people with experience in youth work, education, community development, family support, early intervention, wellbeing services, peer support or mental health services. Experience of engaging children and young people, or a strong interest in helping develop future recovery-focused provision for younger people, would be highly valuable.

Experience of community outreach or engagement, particularly with diverse or under-represented groups, is important.

You’ll ideally have a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification (or equivalent experience) in an area such as Health & Social Care, Mental Health, Community Work, Youth Work, Education or Wellbeing. We’re also looking for knowledge or experience of mental health, recovery-focused practice, engagement or community outreach, including safeguarding.

Most importantly, you’ll be able to:

• Engage people who may be hesitant or new to recovery.
• Design creative and accessible engagement activities that reduce barriers to participation.
• Think innovatively about how recovery principles can support children and young people's mental health and wellbeing.
• Work confidently in community settings with partners, schools, voluntary organisations and youth-focused services.
• Work collaboratively and creatively with people from a range of backgrounds.
• Support people to identify and work towards their own recovery goals.
• Contribute ideas and respond positively to feedback.
• Manage challenging situations appropriately and know when to seek support.Reflect on your practice and be open to learning and development.
• Work within the principles of recovery, co-production and co-delivery.
• Share a personal recovery story professionally, where appropriate, if this is something you choose to do.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.

Our offer:
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition are strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax

For more information on this position please contact Lara Stavrinou, Compass Recovery College at Lara.Stavrinou@reading.gov.uk

Closing Date: Monday 5th October 2026
Interview Date: Tuesday 13th October 2026
Interview Setup: In person at the Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU