The NHS Confederation has appointed Maudsley Charity CEO Rebecca Gray as its new mental health network director.
Gray will start her role in January where she will succeed Sean Duggan OBE, who recently became chair at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Working in collaboration with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust in addition to King’s College London, Gray has led Maudsley Charity since 2016.
The charity became independent in 2018 under her leadership and has since developed its priorities around the needs of adults with severe mental illness, as well as children and young people.
She had rejoined the third sector in 2016 after a stint at The King’s Fund after joining the health sector in 1997 – initially with the Alzheimer’s Society.
New approaches and partnerships
Gray, who has also held a number of senior roles at various health regulators, said: “The [NHS Confederation] mental health network has a history of bringing together the voices of the diverse range of providers on how services can serve and work with communities better, and on what is needed at local, system and national level to achieve change.
“I’m really looking forward to working with leaders at all levels, not only to better understand the challenges that get in the way of delivering the best care and support but importantly to engage with the ideas, new approaches and partnerships which can help tackle them.”
The NHS Confederation’s mental health network has grown considerably in recent years to now include all mental health trusts in its membership, as well as a significant number of independent and charitable organisations.
Fundamentally, the network works with a variety of different stakeholders – ranging from the government to the media – to promote excellence in mental health services and practice.
The network’s chair, Ifti Majid, described the appointment as an “important moment” for NHS mental health services, before emphasising that its members should be confident that it can “push for change” under Gray’s leadership.
Moving mental health up the national agenda
Sir Norman Lamb, chair at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is a brilliant appointment. I have worked with Rebecca for over four years in my role as chair of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and have a very high regard for her.
“Rebecca has led the Maudsley Charity with great skill and constantly demonstrates her strong commitment to mental health. She has been very supportive of our decision to trial a new model of care for mental health.”
The NHS Confederation’s chair, Lord Victor Adebowale, similarly hailed the “exciting appointment”.
“Rebecca comes with an impressive track record having worked in the health sector for around 25 years and she is a passionate advocate for people with mental illness,” he said.
“She will provide extra energy and ideas as we continue to make the case both for parity of esteem and for extra investment and focus on mental health and learning disability.”
Lord Adebowale added that the move comes at an important time, with the new government opening up an opportunity to put mental health back to the top of the national agenda and deliver reform – starting with the Mental Health Act.
“There are so many challenges in mental health but also so much ambition and innovation,” said Gray on leaving the charity.
“I hope my new role will give me the opportunity to support mental health providers to share the great work happening in the sector, to influence and promote excellence in mental health services across the UK.”
Maudsley Charity will kickstart the process to recruit Gray’s successor in the autumn.
Image credit: Maudsley Charity
