It is argued that the welfare sector is increasingly medicalized, where social problems need tobe diagnosed and treated through therapy and medications. Simultaneously, policies, researchand professional discourses emphasise the importance of acknowledging the social aspects ofpersons in vulnerable life circumstances and how inequalities and different biographies ofindividuals are reinforced in various healthcare contexts. Meanwhile, the social work professionoften face difficulties in claiming their role and contribution within the medical field. In thissymposia, we will highlight the important role of social workers in strives towards equality andjustice through this profession’s knowledge on how structures, organisations and socialpositions influence the health and well-being of individuals in vulnerable situations and howcare is provided for those in need. The first presentation draws attention to how social workersare constructed as contributors to palliative care within national policies in Sweden, illustratinghow social workers are positioned through vague formulations. Thereafter, a presentation will114highlight how loneliness can be reduced through social prescriptions, i.e the contact with a“linkworker” to help individuals to enable social connectedness. The value of strengthening theknowledge base for social workers to achieve equal access to care is highlighted in the thirdpresentation. Through Nordic comparisons, the development and futures of specialist trainingwithin healthcare contexts will be addressed. The final presentation will focus on how variouswelfare professions deal with death and dying how educations on these issues are organisedtoday, in times when there are taboos on death and dying.