Socijalni rad u sustavu zdravstva važan je segment formalnog sustava podrške, kako za same korisnike usluga zdravstvenog sustava tako i za članove obitelji pacijenata. Cilj ovog rada bio je istražiti doživljaj struke socijalnog rada u sustavu zdravstva iz perspektive socijalnih radnika zaposlenih u zdravstvu. Provedeno je kvalitativno istraživanje na namjernom uzorku socijalnih radnika zaposlenih u bolnicama. Podaci su prikupljeni primjenom polustrukturiranih intervjua i obrađeni metodom tematske analize te ukazuju na širok spektar uloga i poslovnih aktivnosti koje socijalni radnici obavljaju u svakodnevnom radu: informiranje, administrativni poslovi, savjetovanje, sudjelovanje u kriznim intervencijama te poduzimanje hitnih nezdravstvenih intervencija, individualni i grupni rad s pacijentima, suradnja s lokalnom zajednicom. Teškoće s kojima se socijalni radnici susreću sudionici opisu kroz: diskriminiran i hijerarhijski podređen položaj te loše uvjete rada. Zaključno socijalni radnici iznose preporuke za poboljšanje položaja socijalnog rada: unaprijediti suradnju s kolegama unutar sustava i šire, jačanje profesionalizacije socijalnog rada u sustavu zdravstva te tehnička i organizacijska unaprjeđenja.; The social work services in the health care system represent an important segment of the formal support system intended at the beneficiaries of health care services and the family members of patients. The aim of the study was to examine the status of the social work profession within the health care system from the perspective of the social work professionals employed by health care services. Qualitative research study was conducted on the purposive sample comprising the social work professionals working in hospitals. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. Research results revealed a broad spectrum of roles and professional activities performed by social workers in their daily practice, including informational and administrative activities, counselling, crisis intervention support, performance of urgent nonmedical interventions, individual and group therapy with patients, and cooperation with the local community. In the context of difficulties encountered by social workers in their professional practice, research participants indicated a discriminatory and subordinate position in the organizational hierarchy, as well as generally poor working conditions. In conclusion, social workers offered several recommendations for advancing the status of their profession, including an improved cooperation with colleagues in the health care system and beyond, the promotion of professionalization of the social work practice within the health care system, as well as technical and organizational advances.