General Services Association

The General Services Association (GSA) is a United Kingdom membership organisation for people trained as tutors in the prevention and management of violence and aggression. It operates as a company limited by guarantee and has been delivering training in this field within health and social care since the mid-1990s. The association is primarily rooted in healthcare settings and also includes a number of independent tutors. GSA's membership is spread across the United Kingdom and Ireland, with tutors also based overseas. According to its own account, it has nearly 700 registered members. Tutor courses are run throughout the UK and Ireland, led by a group of 30 senior tutors who have each met a set of exacting criteria to reach that level. The organisation also holds an annual conference at venues around the UK; recent conferences have taken place in Newcastle, Edinburgh and York, covering subjects ranging from governmental initiatives to the experiences of service users. The GSA's core activity is the training and accreditation of tutors who then deliver violence and aggression prevention and management programmes in health and social care workplaces. Its website is structured to explain both its approach to preventing and managing workplace aggression and the route to becoming a tutor. Prospective tutors can join through the association's online process, and the GSA runs multi-week tutor courses, including a three-week tutor course and bespoke train-the-trainer programmes. Governance is provided by directors. Publicly listed directors include Mark Bond, who holds a violence reduction degree and teaching qualifications, has worked in mental health for nearly 30 years, trained as a GSA Tutor in 2004, became a Senior Tutor in 2010 and a director in 2011; and Christopher Burke, Reducing Restrictive Practices Lead for Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, whose background spans learning disabilities, autism and mental health. The association also recognises senior tutors such as Ellen MacDonald and Sean Keepin, and runs continuous professional development events for its tutor community. As a company limited by guarantee rather than a listed or shareholder-owned business, the GSA is a private, member-oriented body. Its brand identity is tied to professional standards, accreditation and continuing development for those responsible for managing aggression in care environments.

The General Services Association (GSA) describes itself as an association of tutors and has been delivering training in the prevention and management of violence and aggression in health and social care since the mid-1990s. It is constituted as a company limited by guarantee, a form commonly used by membership and professional bodies in the United Kingdom. Over time the GSA has built a membership of nearly 700 registered members, with tutors throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland and some based overseas. Tutor courses are run across the UK and Ireland. A group of 30 senior tutors, each having fulfilled a number of exacting criteria, leads these courses. The association also holds an annual conference at venues around the UK; recent conferences have been held in Newcastle, Edinburgh and York, and have explored subjects ranging from governmental initiatives to the experiences of service users. The GSA's leadership includes directors drawn from health and social care. Mark Bond trained as a GSA Tutor in 2004, became a Senior Tutor in 2010 and has been a director since 2011; he holds a violence reduction degree and numerous teaching qualifications and has worked in mental health for nearly 30 years. Christopher Burke is Reducing Restrictive Practices Lead for Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, with a background in learning disabilities, autism and mental health and experience ranging from support worker to Training Manager. The association continues to develop its tutor community through senior tutor appointments, such as Ellen MacDonald and Sean Keepin, and through continuous professional development events. Its course calendar includes three-week tutor courses and bespoke train-the-trainer programmes, such as a 10-day course covering physical interventions and theory. The GSA's website is designed to explain both its approach to preventing and managing workplace aggression and the pathway to becoming a tutor.

• 2026

  Booking form released for the GSA Continuous Professional Development Event 2026.

• 2026

  Sean Keepin recognised as a Senior Tutor.

• 2026

  Ellen MacDonald recognised as a new Senior Tutor.

• 2026

  GSA Senior Tutors 2026 announced.

• 2011

  Mark Bond becomes a director of the GSA.

• 2010

  Mark Bond becomes a Senior Tutor.

• 2004

  Mark Bond trains as a GSA Tutor.

• GSA begins delivering training in the prevention and management of violence and aggression in health and social care.

A professional membership and accreditation body for tutors specialising in the prevention and management of violence and aggression in health and social care, with a UK and Ireland footprint and some overseas tutors.

• Three-week tutor course

  A course to become a GSA tutor; registration on the website does not by itself book a place.

• Bespoke 10-day train-the-trainer course

  Covers physical interventions and theory only; does not include breakaway techniques.

• Annual conference

  Held at venues throughout the UK; recent venues include Newcastle, Edinburgh and York.

• Continuous Professional Development event

  CPD event for GSA tutors, with a booking form.

1. 1The GSAthegsa.co.uk
2. 2The GSA - About Usthegsa.co.uk