What’s next for Puffin Services
SURREY, B.C. — Puffin Services has set out its plans for the coming year. They build on the family care Puffin provides today, childcare, postpartum support, event nannies, and senior and companion care, all delivered by employed caregivers across 16 municipalities in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley.
There are five parts to the plan.
1. Launching in-home pediatric care
The first priority is launching in-home pediatric care. Puffin is preparing speech-language support, occupational therapy support and behaviour intervention, which will be delivered one-on-one in the family's home. Each specialist will work under a supervisor listed on BC's Registry of Autism Service Providers.
Pediatric care is not bookable yet. Families can register their interest, and Puffin will contact them when it opens in their municipality. The details are in Puffin's pediatric care announcement.
2. Online booking for autism respite
In-home respite for autistic children is available now by phone or email. The plan is to add direct online booking, so a family can book respite on the website in the same way families book childcare today.
Until online booking opens, families can arrange respite by emailing hello@puffinservices.com or calling (604) 283-2829. The respite page has the details.
3. Same-day and on-demand booking
Online bookings currently need at least 24 hours' notice. That window gives Puffin time to match a caregiver and confirm the schedule.
As the caregiver team grows, Puffin plans to add same-day and on-demand booking. In the meantime, same-day requests can often be arranged by phone at (604) 283-2829.
4. Hiring across all 16 municipalities
Puffin will keep hiring caregivers across the 16 municipalities it serves: Surrey, Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, Delta, Harrison Hot Springs, Hope, Kent, the City of Langley, the Township of Langley, Maple Ridge, Mission, New Westminster, Pitt Meadows, Richmond and Vancouver.
Every new caregiver will be a Puffin employee, with a vulnerable sector criminal record check and WorkSafeBC coverage, on the same terms as the team today. Caregivers who would like to join can apply through the jobs page.
5. A pediatric centre, in the longer term
Puffin's longer-term goal is to open its first pediatric centre. There is no date for it yet.
A centre was the plan Puffin started with, and in-home pediatric care is the next step toward it. The story of why Puffin started explains where that goal comes from.
Following along
Puffin will publish updates on this News page as each part of the plan moves forward. Families with questions in the meantime can email hello@puffinservices.com or call (604) 283-2829.