diff --git a/app/modules/employees/service.py b/app/modules/employees/service.py
index e661966..9e4308b 100644
--- a/app/modules/employees/service.py
+++ b/app/modules/employees/service.py
@@ -3573,17 +3573,77 @@ def _i1_approval_blocker(
     return None
 
 
+def _i1_review_execution_blocker(
+    tasks: list[ClientServiceTaskInstance],
+    target_task: ClientServiceTaskInstance,
+) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
+    """Lock downstream staff work behind an unfinished Manager/Partner review-step task.
+
+    Some service templates model the review itself as a separate execution task
+    (for example, "Review of working and draft filing") rather than as a review
+    status on the preceding Staff task.  Such tasks must remain visible to Staff
+    for workflow context, but Staff cannot execute them and downstream Staff work
+    must wait until the reviewer completes the review-step task.
+    """
+    ordered = sorted(tasks, key=lambda row: (int(getattr(row, "sequence_no", 0) or 0), int(row.id)))
+    reviewer_roles = {"manager", "partner", "review partner"}
+
+    for row in ordered:
+        if row.id == target_task.id:
+            break
+
+        status = (getattr(row, "status", None) or "pending").strip().lower()
+        if status in CLOSED_TASK_STATUSES:
+            continue
+
+        default_role = (getattr(row, "default_role_name", None) or "").strip().lower()
+        if default_role not in reviewer_roles:
+            continue
+
+        eligible = [
+            item.strip()
+            for item in (getattr(row, "eligible_role_names", None) or "").split(",")
+            if item.strip()
+        ]
+        reviewer_label = " / ".join(
+            role for role in ("Manager", "Partner", "Review Partner") if role in eligible
+        )
+        if not reviewer_label:
+            reviewer_label = (getattr(row, "default_role_name", None) or "Reviewer").strip()
+
+        return {
+            "task_id": int(row.id),
+            "task_name": row.task_name,
+            "label": f"Awaiting {reviewer_label} review step",
+            "levels": [reviewer_label],
+        }
+    return None
+
+
+def _i1_workflow_blocker(
+    tasks: list[ClientServiceTaskInstance],
+    target_task: ClientServiceTaskInstance,
+) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
+    """Return the first applicable normal/AQMM approval or reviewer-task gate."""
+    return (
+        _i1_approval_blocker(tasks, target_task)
+        or _i1_review_execution_blocker(tasks, target_task)
+    )
+
+
 def _i1_prepare_task_display(
     task: ClientServiceTaskInstance,
     *,
     tasks: list[ClientServiceTaskInstance],
     task_document_counts: dict[int, int],
+    read_only: bool = False,
 ) -> None:
     status = (getattr(task, "status", None) or "pending").strip().lower()
     task.i1_status = status
     task.i1_review_levels = _i1_required_review_levels(task)
     task.i1_review_label = _i1_review_label(task)
-    task.i1_approval_blocker = _i1_approval_blocker(tasks, task)
+    task.i1_approval_blocker = _i1_workflow_blocker(tasks, task)
+    task.i1_read_only = bool(read_only)
     task.i1_has_evidence = task_document_counts.get(int(task.id), 0) > 0
     task.i1_documents = []
     task.i1_communications = [
@@ -3597,7 +3657,8 @@ def _i1_prepare_task_display(
     )
     task.i1_needs_evidence = bool(getattr(task, "evidence_required", False))
     task.i1_quick_complete = bool(
-        not task.i1_approval_blocker
+        not task.i1_read_only
+        and not task.i1_approval_blocker
         and not task.i1_needs_response
         and (not task.i1_needs_evidence or task.i1_has_evidence)
         and not getattr(task, "is_locked", False)
@@ -3785,23 +3846,48 @@ def get_employee_engagement_work_board(
     document, checklist, AQMM and lock controls remain the source of truth.
     """
     today = date.today()
-    stmt = _employee_work_task_query(
+    assigned_stmt = _employee_work_task_query(
         db, scope, assigned_only=True, financial_year=financial_year
     ).where(ClientServiceTaskInstance.subscription_id == engagement_id)
-    tasks = db.execute(
-        stmt.order_by(
+    assigned_tasks = db.execute(
+        assigned_stmt.order_by(
             ClientServiceTaskInstance.sequence_no.asc(),
             ClientServiceTaskInstance.internal_target_date.is_(None),
             ClientServiceTaskInstance.internal_target_date.asc(),
             ClientServiceTaskInstance.id.asc(),
         )
     ).scalars().all()
-    if not tasks:
+    if not assigned_tasks:
         raise HTTPException(
             status_code=404,
             detail="Engagement work not found or not assigned to you",
         )
 
+    # Keep the Staff assignment boundary, but include Manager/Partner review-step
+    # tasks from the same engagement as read-only workflow context.  This keeps
+    # sequence numbers visible and allows downstream Staff tasks to show the
+    # exact reviewer dependency without giving Staff execution rights.
+    all_stmt = _employee_work_task_query(
+        db, scope, assigned_only=False, financial_year=financial_year
+    ).where(ClientServiceTaskInstance.subscription_id == engagement_id)
+    all_tasks = db.execute(
+        all_stmt.order_by(
+            ClientServiceTaskInstance.sequence_no.asc(),
+            ClientServiceTaskInstance.internal_target_date.is_(None),
+            ClientServiceTaskInstance.internal_target_date.asc(),
+            ClientServiceTaskInstance.id.asc(),
+        )
+    ).scalars().all()
+
+    assigned_ids = {int(row.id) for row in assigned_tasks}
+    reviewer_roles = {"manager", "partner", "review partner"}
+    tasks = [
+        row
+        for row in all_tasks
+        if int(row.id) in assigned_ids
+        or (getattr(row, "default_role_name", None) or "").strip().lower() in reviewer_roles
+    ]
+
     summary = {
         "total": len(tasks),
         "open": 0,
@@ -3869,17 +3955,23 @@ def get_employee_engagement_work_board(
         selected_task = next((row for row in tasks if row.id == active_task_id), None)
     if selected_task is None:
         selected_task = next(
-            (row for row in tasks if (row.status or "pending").strip().lower() == "in_progress"),
+            (
+                row for row in assigned_tasks
+                if (row.status or "pending").strip().lower() == "in_progress"
+            ),
             None,
         )
     if selected_task is None:
         selected_task = next(
-            (row for row in tasks if (row.status or "pending").strip().lower() not in CLOSED_TASK_STATUSES),
-            tasks[0],
+            (
+                row for row in assigned_tasks
+                if (row.status or "pending").strip().lower() not in CLOSED_TASK_STATUSES
+            ),
+            assigned_tasks[0],
         )
 
     selected_category = _employee_task_category(selected_task)
-    next_task = _employee_workflow_next_task(tasks, selected_task.id)
+    next_task = _employee_workflow_next_task(assigned_tasks, selected_task.id)
     weighted_overall = _weighted_progress(tasks)
     overall_progress = weighted_overall["progress_percent"]
     subscription = getattr(tasks[0], "subscription", None)
@@ -3904,8 +3996,9 @@ def get_employee_engagement_work_board(
     for task in tasks:
         _i1_prepare_task_display(
             task,
-            tasks=tasks,
+            tasks=all_tasks,
             task_document_counts=task_document_counts,
+            read_only=int(task.id) not in assigned_ids,
         )
         task.i1_documents = task_documents.get(int(task.id), [])
 
@@ -3984,7 +4077,7 @@ def save_employee_workflow_task(
         .where(ClientServiceTaskInstance.subscription_id == task.subscription_id)
         .order_by(ClientServiceTaskInstance.sequence_no.asc(), ClientServiceTaskInstance.id.asc())
     ).scalars().all()
-    approval_blocker = _i1_approval_blocker(engagement_tasks_for_gate, task)
+    approval_blocker = _i1_workflow_blocker(engagement_tasks_for_gate, task)
     if approval_blocker and normalised_status in {"in_progress", "completed", "not_applicable"}:
         raise ValueError(approval_blocker["label"])
 
diff --git a/app/modules/employees/templates/employees/work_engagement_board.html b/app/modules/employees/templates/employees/work_engagement_board.html
index e0153ea..c26ae3d 100644
--- a/app/modules/employees/templates/employees/work_engagement_board.html
+++ b/app/modules/employees/templates/employees/work_engagement_board.html
@@ -130,6 +130,9 @@
                 <div class="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2">
                   <span class="text-xs font-semibold text-slate-400">#{{ task.sequence_no }}</span>
                   <h4 class="font-semibold text-slate-900">{{ task.task_name }}</h4>
+                  {% if task.i1_read_only %}
+                  <span class="rounded-full bg-slate-100 px-2 py-1 text-[11px] font-semibold text-slate-600">Read Only</span>
+                  {% endif %}
                   {% if task.i1_review_label %}
                     {% if task.i1_review_label == 'Approved' %}
                     <span class="rounded-full bg-emerald-50 px-2 py-1 text-[11px] font-semibold text-emerald-700">◆ Approved</span>
@@ -159,7 +162,9 @@
           </div>
 
           <div class="flex flex-wrap items-center gap-2 lg:justify-end">
-            {% if not task.i1_approval_blocker and not task.is_locked and not (task.subscription and task.subscription.is_locked) %}
+            {% if task.i1_read_only %}
+            <span class="rounded-xl bg-slate-100 px-3 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-slate-500">Review step</span>
+            {% elif not task.i1_approval_blocker and not task.is_locked and not (task.subscription and task.subscription.is_locked) %}
               {% if status not in ['completed', 'not_applicable'] %}
                 {% if task.i1_quick_complete %}
                 <form method="post" action="/employee/work/engagements/{{ board.engagement_id }}/tasks/{{ task.id }}/quick-action">