The Reality in Hungary

Moderator Gergely Katona (Baptist Diaconal Center, Social Notes) opened the discussion by presenting statistical data reflecting the current state of the sector. According to estimates, approximately 90,000 people work in the social welfare system in Hungary, but only 20% of them hold a college degree. Although official statistics show an average gross salary of around 582,000 Ft, workers tend to estimate it at around 400,000 Ft gross—due to the inconsistency of bonuses and other payments. Nationwide, there is a 20% labor shortage, which exceeds 40% in certain areas. Approximately 40% of those who earn a degree in this field do not find employment in the social sector even after graduation.

Resilience – more than flexibility

The central concept of the discussion was resilience. Dr. Szilvia Ádám (Semmelweis University) defined resilience as the ability that allows an individual or organization to recover—and even thrive—after a crisis. Erzsébet Kővári (Budapest Methodological Centre of Social Policy and Its Institutions) cited the COVID-19 pandemic, the refugee crisis, and the cost-of-living crisis as examples where effective communication and collaboration helped institutions. Dr. Zsófia Hídvégi (Hungarian Association of Supervisors and Supervisor-Coaches) emphasized from a neuroscientific perspective that humans are social beings, and thus connecting with others is an important means of calming the nervous system.

Why are colleagues leaving?

According to the experts, the reason for leaving the profession is not only salary, but working conditions, the lack of positive feedback and the workplace atmosphere. In 85–90% of supervision cases, the source of problems is not difficulties with clients, but collegial tensions and manager-subordinate relationships. The key to the solution lies in creating “psychological safety” – an environment where it is okay to make mistakes.

Supervision: not a luxury, but an essential in mental well-being

Supervision is an interprofessional reflective process that supports helpers’ mental well-being in four dimensions: me and my profession, me and my colleagues, me and my clients, and me and the system. The experts agreed that supervision should become part of professional socialisation. Erzsébet Kővári shared that at BMSZKI, centrally organised supervision has been available since 2020.

Good practices and personal strategies

Participants reported several forward-looking initiatives, including the BMSZKI and MOME collaboration, community psychiatry programmes, relaxation rooms for staff, and leadership training and resilience programmes. At the end of the discussion, the experts shared their own coping strategies: conscious self-care, grounding techniques, expanding reaction time, positive focus and supportive relationships all contribute to maintaining helpers’ mental balance.

The key takeaway of the roundtable discussion is that the sustainability of the helping professions requires “helping the helpers”. As we are taught on aeroplanes: we must put on our own oxygen mask first.

The podcast version of the Hunagrian discussion can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgOClhaLRyA 

The HÉTFA Research Institute is organising a Hungarian event within the framework of the CARES (Caregivers Advancing Regulatory Environment and Skills) project, providing a space for professional dialogue on the challenges facing the social care sector. The event will bring together researchers, practitioners, and sector experts to exchange experiences and discuss possible solutions to some of the most pressing issues affecting the profession today.

Following the presentation of the research findings, a roundtable discussion entitled „The Cost of Caring: Workforce Shortages, Burnout and Resilience in the Hungarian Care Sector” will bring together experts from academia, professional organisations, trade unions, and social service providers to reflect on some of the most pressing challenges facing the sector. The discussion will be moderated by Gergely Katona (Baptist Diaconal Centre). Panel participants include Ágnes Dr Győri (ELTE TK), Szilvia Dr Ádám (Semmelweis University), Zsófia Dr Hídvégi (Hungarian Association of Supervisors and Supervisor-Coaches), and Erzsébet Kővári (Budapest Methodological Social Centre and Institutions).

Date: 24 June 2026, 14:00-16:00

Venue: Empathy Community Space, Arany János utca 31, 1051 Budapest, Hungary

Participation is free of charge, but prior registration is required.

Registration link:
https://forms.gle/eTgzkP3wsSuzbwrZA

An audio recording of the discussion will be made available publicly after the event.

The CARES project is funded by Erasmus+ and co-funded by the European Union.

The Hungarian invitation to the event and the detailed agenda is attached below: Hungarian Invitation

One of the key objectives of the CARES project is to support professionals working in the care sector, promote their mental well-being, and contribute to the development of more sustainable and attractive working environments. Through training programmes, self-learning resources, mentoring opportunities, and capacity-building activities, the project seeks to strengthen the skills and resilience of care workers while helping them address the challenges they encounter in their daily work.

The first Online Policy Lab organised within the CARES project highlighted that many European countries face similar challenges. Participants identified workforce retention, burnout prevention, professional recognition, and continuous skills development as main priorities for ensuring the long-term sustainability and quality of social care services.

Building on these discussions, the CARES project will host its second Online Policy Lab on 17 June 2026. This event will focus on sharing practical solutions and showcasing project results. Participants will be introduced to the CARES Online Training Platform and its training modules, while representatives of European organisations working in the social sector will present good practices that support the well-being of care professionals and contribute to a more sustainable care workforce. 

The event aims not only to present the project outputs but also to create a space for exchange and mutual thinking. Speakers and participants from different countries will have the opportunity to discuss innovative approaches, successful initiatives, and practical experiences to strengthen the support systems for care workers across Europe.

Participation in the event is free, but prior registration is required. 

Date: 17 June 2026 (Wednesday)
Time: 14:00-15:30 (CET)
Format: Online (Zoom)
Language: English

You can register via the link below:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/WDdnfBrHRjWLj6bi9jKE4Q

The detailed programme and information about the guest speakers are available in the event invitation: Invitation for the 2nd Online Policy Lab.

The partner meeting provided an excellent opportunity for the consortium to jointly review the progress achieved so far in the project and to coordinate the tasks for the second phase. Discussions focused on the finalisation of the online training modules, the further development of the online platform, and knowledge-sharing and dissemination activities.

Within the activities led by HÉTFA, two online international policy labs are organised on European challenges affecting the social and care sectors, as well as a national multiplier event. The first online international policy lab took place on 13 May 2026; you can read our previous article on the event. The next online international policy event will be held on 17 June 2026, with further information to be shared soon.

The project’s multiplier events will be organised in all partner countries – Lithuania, Italy, Romania and Hungary. The Hungarian event will take place on 23 June 2026. Its aim is to present the project and share the results and lessons learned with professionals in the social and care sectors through a presentation and roundtable discussion.

The latest updates on our upcoming events will be published on our website, and on our Facebook and LinkedIn pages.

The keynote presentation was delivered by Martin Lichte, the senior policy officer at the European Social Network (ESN), who provided an overview of workforce trends and structural challenges affecting social services across Europe.

The presentation highlighted that social services workers represent approximately 5% of the total EU workforce, while the sector remains significantly undervalued, underfunded, and characterised by difficult working conditions. It was also emphasised that 80-90% of the workforce is women, the average age of workers is above 45 in many countries (somewhere 55+), and the demand for long-term care services continues to rise across Europe.

Several innovative European good practices were presented during the keynote session, including community-based preventive care models, respite care programmes supporting family carers, and examples of digitalisation and artificial intelligence in social services. The presentation stressed that technological developments in care services must remain accessible, ethical, inclusive, and human-centred, while reducing administrative burdens and supporting independent living.

The second part of the event featured a presentation by the lead partner of the CARES project, Claudia Petrescu (Center for Not-for-profit Law), who introduced the main findings of the project’s transnational benchmark research examining social and health care systems in the project’s partner countries – Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, and Romania. The research highlighted that population ageing, increasing care needs, and workforce shortages are placing growing pressure on care systems across all four countries.

One of the main findings of the research was that social care workers remain highly dedicated to their profession, while burnout, emotional exhaustion, and secondary traumatic stress are reaching alarming levels in several countries, including Hungary. Survey participants identified excessive workload, low salaries, staff shortages, administrative burdens, and insufficient organisational support as the main sources of stress.

The moderated breakout discussions also provided an opportunity for participants to share national experiences and formulate recommendations. In the Hungarian discussion group, participants highlighted the lack of social recognition for social work, the need for stronger cooperation between organisations within the sector, and concerns regarding the weakening of professional qualification requirements in social services. Hungarian participants also stressed the importance of strengthening university-level social work education and improving coordination between the social, health, and education sectors.

Among the recommendations formulated during the discussions were improving salaries and working conditions, strengthening institutional support for workers’ mental well-being, expanding mentoring and training opportunities, and increasing the social recognition of care professions.

The outcomes of the event will contribute to the CARES project’s further professional development and the preparation of future policy recommendations.

The project will continue in the coming months with additional professional events and a second Online Policy Lab to strengthen international exchange and share good practice through individual presentations by professionals working in the social care sector.

Regarding the upcoming events, more information will be shared with you soon.

You can find the CARES project’s Benchmark Report on Social Care Sectors at the National and EU Level here: CARES_Benchmark_report_on_social_care_sectors_Transnational.

The aim of the event is to create a space for dialogue among experts, policymakers, and practitioners, and to foster joint reflection on the sector’s future.

The programme will begin with a keynote presentation by an expert from the European Social Network (ESN), who will share insights on current workforce trends in social services. The presentation will also introduce ESN’s new initiative on a quality framework for social services, which promotes co-production approaches involving both service users and workers. This will be followed by a presentation from the project’s lead partner, Center for Not-for-profit Law (CLNR), introducing the key findings of the project’s benchmark transnational report and setting the framework for the project’s objectives.

The interactive part of the event will consist of moderated breakout sessions in which participants will work in smaller groups. These discussions will allow participants to share national experiences, identify key challenges, and formulate policy recommendations.

The session will conclude with a plenary wrap-up, where the project’s moderators will summarise the main insights from the group discussions. These outcomes will contribute to the further development of the project’s activities.

The Online Policy Lab is particularly relevant for professionals working in the care sector, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future development of care services.

Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Llb1SYWrSeGkw2RUFYaaEA

The pilot training is meant not only to build participants’ skills, but also to test and refine the project’s tools in real-life settings before wider rollout. The methodology is based on a blended, learner-centred approach that combines online learning with face-to-face workshops, practical assignments, and individual mentoring. A key element is microlearning: short, focused modules that allow busy caregivers to learn in a flexible and accessible format. These are complemented by scenario-based exercises and case studies that reflect real challenges from everyday care work.

The training pathway includes 15 microlearning modules, with 8 compulsory modules for the pilot phase. The curriculum covers digital skills, soft skills, social entrepreneurship, green and sustainable practices, and a strong well-being component. In fact, the largest thematic area is burnout and well-being, with modules dedicated to stress management, anger management, trauma, fear, self-esteem, work-life balance, and psychological first aid.

Another important feature of the methodology is the integration of personalised mentoring and self-learning resources, including handbooks, info cards, and practice-based materials hosted on the CARES platform. This structure helps participants move from learning to application and reflection, while also supporting long-term professional development and resilience in the care sector.

By combining flexibility, practical relevance, and individual support, the CARES pilot methodology offers a strong foundation for building a more skilled, resilient, and better-supported care workforce. It is also designed with transferability and long-term impact in mind, so that the model can be adapted and used beyond the initial pilot phase.

In May, we are focusing on the organisation of the pilot trainings within the CARES project. We invite care professionals, partner organisations, and stakeholders to follow the next steps of the project and stay connected for updates on the training activities, learning opportunities, and pilot implementation.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them

Built for practical, real-life use, the platform offers a 30-hour learning pathway made up of 15 short microlearning modules.

The content is flexible, accessible, and easy to apply in everyday work. It includes:

• wellbeing and burnout prevention
• digital skills and responsible use of AI tools
• soft skills such as emotional intelligence, inclusion, and self-advocacy
• green and social entrepreneurship-related skills for more sustainable care practice.

The platform is part of the wider CARES pilot training methodology, which combines online learning, real-life case scenarios, mentoring, and practical resources to support a more resilient care workforce.

You can discover the platform’s modules by clicking on this link, and you can gain access to the platform through registering on this link.

Developed collaboratively by the consortium partners — Center for Non-Profit Law (Romania), Cooperativa Sociale Labor (Italy), HÉTFA Research Institute (Hungary), Welfare Society Institute (Lithuania), and DGASPC Sector 6 (Romania) — this curriculum responds to the growing challenges faced by care professionals, including digital transformation, emotional burnout, and the transition to sustainable practices in health and social care. You can learn more about the upcoming Curriculum in this article.

🌍What the CARES Curriculum Offers

The curriculum is structured into 15 short, targeted modules (each around two hours), offering a balanced mix of digital skills, soft skills, green competences, and well-being strategies for care professionals. Each module was designed to be practical, flexible, and accessible through both in-person and online learning formats. Together, they form a holistic pathway toward empowering caregivers to thrive in a rapidly evolving sector.

Main Training Categories and Highlights:

💻Digital Skills (Modules 1–3)

Practical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital communication tools in social services, online well-being apps, and assistive smart technologies.

🧠Soft Skills (Modules 4–5)

Emotional intelligence, boundary setting, and intersectionality awareness — essential for maintaining empathy and professionalism.

💼Social Entrepreneurship (Module 6)

Understanding social enterprise standards, ethical procurement, and networking in the care economy.

🌿Green & Sustainable Skills (Module 7)

Linking climate change, eco-procurement, and nature-based therapies to care work.

💚Burnout Prevention & Well-being (Modules 8–15)

A set of eight modules addressing stress, anger, trauma, fear, self-esteem, and psychological first aid — promoting emotional resilience and peer support in care environments.

🧩A Modular, Flexible Approach

Each module combines interactive methodologies — from hands-on exercises and real-life case studies to reflective journaling and online simulations — ensuring that participants engage actively in their learning journey.

Training sessions are supported by:

 – Digital resources on the CARES online platform,

 – Practical toolkits and guides,

 – Certificates of attendance for each completed module.

The CARES Curriculum not only develops technical and emotional skills — it supports a broader vision of “care for the caregivers.” By investing in those who provide care, we strengthen the entire system that underpins social inclusion, dignity, and well-being in Europe.

As the consortium finalises this deliverable, the next step will be to integrate the modules into the CARES e-learning platform, opening access for caregivers and trainers in 2026. We will publish the news on launching the CARES Training Curriculum on our website. You can find recent news on the CARES project on this link.