The South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust has appointed a new non-executive director; Helen Edwards CB CBE.
Ms Edwards will start her new role in March 2020 after her appointment was confirmed earlier this month by the council of governors.
She brings a skill-set honed working with various charities and NHS providers.
Currently chair of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities helping people with mental health and substance abuse issues, she is also a board member of Peabody Housing Trust and Social Finance.
She has also been a non-executive director for an NHS trust in north London.
Between 2013 and 2016 Ms Edwards worked as deputy permanent secretary and director general of the Local Government and Public Services department, and has also been acting permanent secretary at the Ministry of Justice and chief executive of the National Offender Manager Management Services at the Home Office.
It was her role at the National Crime Reduction Agency that bagged her a CBE for services to offenders, and a Companion of the Order of Bath for her contribution to the field of justice.
She said of her appointment: “I am delighted to be joining the trust as a non-executive director.
“I have a long-standing commitment to improve mental health services and so am pleased to be able to join such a well-regarded organisation.
“I look forward to playing a part in helping the trust to achieve its mission and deliver its ambitious plans for the future.”
Maudsley CEO David Bradley described her as “a real asset to our board and the people we serve.”