Government Orders Psychological Fitness Examinations for Child Home Leaders
In a recent development, the Hungarian government has mandated psychological fitness examinations for directors and their deputies at child protection institutions, as part of a series of new measures to ensure the safety of children.
The announcement was made on social media by Bence Rétvári, following Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's promise to implement stricter controls within child welfare facilities to prevent harm to children both inside and outside the institutions.
NEW STANDARDS TO BE SET FOR APPOINTMENTS
After Wednesday's cabinet meeting, Bence Rétvári, State Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, revealed the first of these new measures. For all appointments and employment at child protection agencies, there will now be a mandatory comprehensive psychological assessment examining leadership qualities, personality competencies, potential for sexual deviance, and addictions. A forthcoming governmental decree detailing these new requirements will soon be available in the Magyar Közlöny, the official Hungarian gazette, and will come into immediate effect to ensure the prompt initiation of the evaluations.
These assessments will be conducted for both new candidates and for those currently holding leadership positions.
The examinations will be based on a professional protocol approved by the Minister of Interior, Sándor Pintér, and will undergo biennial reviews for all institution leaders and their deputies.
WHAT WILL THE EXAMINATIONS INCLUDE?
The Minister of Interior is also set to define the expected leadership competencies for child protection institution directors, which will form a part of these new psychological fitness assessments. Among the factors being evaluated are general psychological state, emotional regulation, psychological resilience, stress management skills, sense of responsibility, pathological dependencies (such as gambling, alcoholism, and drug addiction), tendencies towards self-harm, and sexual deviance.
As previously mentioned by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a comprehensive evaluation covering all child homes has been ordered. Furthermore, a second legislative package on child protection is in the works, which will introduce stricter penalties for child sexual abuse crimes.
During Wednesday's government session, a progress report on the investigation of the Bicske child home incident was presented. In his post, Bence Rétvári criticized the Budapest Municipality's appointment of János V., an individual with known homosexual tendencies and sexual aberrations, as the director of the child home, questioning the municipality's awareness of these issues.
NEW STANDARDS TO BE SET FOR APPOINTMENTS
After Wednesday's cabinet meeting, Bence Rétvári, State Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, revealed the first of these new measures. For all appointments and employment at child protection agencies, there will now be a mandatory comprehensive psychological assessment examining leadership qualities, personality competencies, potential for sexual deviance, and addictions. A forthcoming governmental decree detailing these new requirements will soon be available in the Magyar Közlöny, the official Hungarian gazette, and will come into immediate effect to ensure the prompt initiation of the evaluations.
These assessments will be conducted for both new candidates and for those currently holding leadership positions.
The examinations will be based on a professional protocol approved by the Minister of Interior, Sándor Pintér, and will undergo biennial reviews for all institution leaders and their deputies.
WHAT WILL THE EXAMINATIONS INCLUDE?
The Minister of Interior is also set to define the expected leadership competencies for child protection institution directors, which will form a part of these new psychological fitness assessments. Among the factors being evaluated are general psychological state, emotional regulation, psychological resilience, stress management skills, sense of responsibility, pathological dependencies (such as gambling, alcoholism, and drug addiction), tendencies towards self-harm, and sexual deviance.
As previously mentioned by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a comprehensive evaluation covering all child homes has been ordered. Furthermore, a second legislative package on child protection is in the works, which will introduce stricter penalties for child sexual abuse crimes.
During Wednesday's government session, a progress report on the investigation of the Bicske child home incident was presented. In his post, Bence Rétvári criticized the Budapest Municipality's appointment of János V., an individual with known homosexual tendencies and sexual aberrations, as the director of the child home, questioning the municipality's awareness of these issues.
