Levels of work in physiotherapy. Physiotherapy organisation: 3

Work, defined as decisions and responsibility, within an organisation, can be described using a number of hierarchcally linked levels (or strata). These can be labelled as prescribed output (I); situational response (II); systematic service provision (III); comprehensive service provision (IV); and comprehensive field coverage (V). Sensitivity, skill, judgment and ethics may be required at any level, and no level is inherently better or more valuable than any other. Work at any level may affect work at other levels. Work at any level provides a context for work at levels below, for example through committal of resources or development of plans. Organisational structure requires a clear understanding of the work to be done and the level of that work. Relations between work roles depend on levels. For example, full managerial authority (if desired) is best exercised when the roles are one stratum apart. Physiotherapy organisation must take into account that professional work, defined as the assessment and intervention in a particulr case, is stratum II.