1. careers
2. nursing

CoNsultant Profile
A narrative of career pathway:
I started my nursing journey as a student nurse in 1977 in Nottingham. I qualified as a
general nurse in 1980 working on physical trauma and surgical wards eventually working
in the Intensive Care unit. It was here I began to become increasingly interested in
psychological care. This prompted me to undertake my RMN training which I completed
in 1984. Since qualifying as a mental health nurse I have worked in many different roles:
a staff nurse on a acute and rehabilitation wards; as a sister (yes that was the title in
those days) and manager of a unit which lead the way for residential/community care
allowing the large institutions to close; developed the role of clinical nurse specialist
seeing the need for innovation in both nursing and recovery focused practices.
Christine milburn
Nurse Consultant
Rampton Hospital
Clinical area and responsibility: Working
across the Directorate to deliver: Professional/
clinical nursing leadership; psychological
therapies; enhancement of the therapeutic
milieu, development of nursing practice,
workforce development, supervision
and research.
Line manager: Richard Phipps
Directorate: Male Personality Disorder (PD)
and National High Secure Healthcare Service
for Women
Division: Forensic
Base address: Rampton Hospital Retford
Nott’s. DN22 0PD
Email: Christine.milburn@nottshc.nhs.uk
Top areas of impact:
nInnovation and development of a
nationally recognised systemic multi-modal
approach to working with people who
have experienced complex trauma and
those who self injure as a way of coping
(TASI program)
nInvolvement of patients in the
development, delivery and evaluation of
services provided. Including involvement in
the teaching of staff
nPromoted, developed and disseminated
practices across Women’s National
Forensic Pathways and other mental
health services through the provision of:
multi-disciplinary training and education;
consultancy and supervision of individuals,
teams and services
Top areas of commitment:
nImplementation in forensic services of NICE
recommended approaches/
psychological treatments for complex
trauma and self injury
nImproving the experiences/ recovery of
patients with complex needs with a
co existing need to hurt self and others
across forensic pathways
nPromote the clinical voice of the nursing
profession in all domains
At this point I was seconded on the ENB 660 Adult Psychodynamic Psychotherapy course
in Oxford. This was an eighteen month full time training exclusively for nurses. I had the
privilege of working in: intensive day care services for Personality disorder; therapeutic
community; therapist in GP surgery; oxford psychotherapy unit delivering group and
individual therapy; low secure provision. On my return in 1991 I worked as a Clinical
Nurse Specialist part time as a Therapist in the Nottingham Psychotherapy Unit and
Specialist in Adult Community Care and Rehabilitation services.
As the demand to develop services and deliver evidence based care increased I become
more involved in the promotion and project management of new and innovative provision.
My role as senior nurse /specialist evolved with other multi-disciplinary colleagues we
developed and delivered on the government agenda to re engineer services for those with
complex mental health problems. My interest in health policy and organisations led me to
undertake and complete my Msc in this area at Nottingham university.
Having a keen interest in research, more particularly evidence based practice in 2000I
was seconded on a part time basis for 2years into the then research department. This
involved promoting and setting up structures to enable clinicians to consider current
research and its links to promoting practice change across the organisation.
Through out my career I have engaged in education and training from a participant and
from a facilitator. In the latter stages I have not only delivered but developed strategies
for developing the workforce across services.
During the period which the organization was in the process of merging with Mansfield I took
on an interim lead nurse role for Nottingham during a very complex and challenging time.
I was then asked to apply for the Consultant Nurse role in the Womens service at Rampton
Hospital which I was successful in getting. During my 11 years in this role the Womens service
has developed into the National service for Great Britain. I was involved in this process at a
strategic level along with playing a part at a national level in the development of Forensic
Womens healthcare strategy and pathways. During the early years I completed a 2 year
diploma in forensic psychotherapy at the Portman Clinic in London. I have also had access to
being training in DBT therapy and EMDR therapy. Currently I am involved in developing and
training in using sensory approaches to create trauma informed environments.
During my career I have developed education and training packages; conferences both
organized and presented at national and international level and sat on a number of
national working groups. I have also been the chair of enquiries in to care. Fortunately
throughout my time I have been thanked and nominated for wards for my clinical practice.
From early in my career I have always had a desire to involve patients through dialogue in
the development and delivery of their care. This has influenced my practice from the start.
Through my 37 years working as a nurse in the National Health Service I have been
inspired and supported by many fantastic people both staff and patients. I believe it is my
high regard for colleagues and patients along with my thirst to understand and drive to
want things to improve that has motivated me.
A description of specialism:
Christine’s specialism is working with those who have experienced complex trauma and
also those who use self injury as a way of coping.
The TASI Programme has been developed to deliver services for women who have
experienced trauma, have Post Traumatic Stress related symptoms, who self injure and
have the capacity to hurt others. This is a multi level program which is delivered in the
National High Secure Healthcare Service for Women. It aims to systemically change the
provision and approaches to working and living with the impact of trauma and self injury.
It seeks to promote an adapted approach to reducing harm when working with self
injury. Reducing the risk of harm to self and others when distressed is a key function. The
TASI programme’s foundation for practice recognises development at three key levels.