Mental health expert Christopher Siegersma has been appointed Commissioner for the Welfare and Development of Prisoners, the Home Affairs Ministry has announced.

The new role was announced on Friday by Minister Byron Camilleri. It was one of the recommendations put forward by an inquiry board that looked into the workings of the prison agency. The inquiry was launched after a string of inmate suicides.

Camilleri also announced that suspended prison boss Alex Dalli would not retake the position but will be reassigned to a “different role.”

The ministry said Siegersma, 38, has many years of experience in the medical and social fields. He was responsible with leading multidisciplinary teams in mental health, including the Crisis Intervention and Home Treatment team (CIHT) and the Young People’s Unit (YPU).

He graduated as a nurse and holds a Masters degree in mental health care from the University of Malta. He is currently reading for a PhD from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, specialising in psychological trauma related to criminal acts.

As commissioner, he will be responsible to oversee the implementation of other recommendations put forward by the inquiry board.