In the world of care management, the term “best practice” is often thrown around as a badge of honour – a buzzword in the mould of “excellence,” “person-centred,” “amazing caregivers,” “we are a family,” etc... But while the concept sounds promising, it can sometimes be more of an excuse for stagnation than a catalyst for improvement. By its very nature, best practice can trap organisations in a cycle of complacency, where the goal is to follow the crowd rather than lead with innovation.

The comfort of “best practice”

Best practices are designed to help organisations implement strategies and techniques that are proven to work. They give a sense of security because they are backed by research and are often endorsed by industry leaders. They provide a roadmap to follow, which makes decision-making easier in an otherwise complex environment. But herein lies the problem – comfort.

Best practice is often about finding a way of doing things and sticking to it, but care providers who prioritise comfort over progress are missing the point. Best practice should always be about moving forward, daring to try and embracing all that comes with it. Instead, it can easily become a safety net, allowing providers to avoid risks and innovative thinking. When care homes only focus on doing what’s already been done, they aren't moving toward something better; they’re simply maintaining the status quo.

Herd mentality and the fear of being different

One of the most dangerous aspects of best practice is that it often represents what’s most widely adopted by the herd. When everyone is following the same path, it creates a culture of conformity where questioning the norm feels like a risk, rather than an opportunity. Care providers can fall into the trap of thinking, "If everyone else is doing it, it must be the right thing to do." This is classic bandwagon thinking – decisions are made not based on individual assessment, but on the assumption that the majority can’t be wrong.

But what if the majority is wrong? What if they’re stuck in their own ways? Just because a practice is popular doesn’t make it perfect. The fear of stepping away from what everyone else is doing stifles innovation, preventing care providers from trying new approaches that might be more effective. After all, if you’re doing something unique and calling it best practice, aren’t you inherently competing against everyone else?

Best practice becomes outdated

In an industry as dynamic as care, best practices are at constant risk of becoming outdated. Healthcare, staffing models, resident needs, and even regulations evolve over time. A practice that was deemed the “best” five years ago may no longer meet today’s challenges. Yet, many care homes hold onto these old practices because they’ve been validated by the industry in the past.

Take the rise of digital care planning systems as an example. Some care homes are still clinging to pen-and-paper methods because, at one point, this was the most reliable and efficient system available. But with the development of digital tools that reduce errors and improve communication, pen-and-paper systems are now causing more harm than good.

Now we’re experiencing that same apprehension in making the move from simple digital to AI enhanced. The cycle repeats itself.

The comfort trap of best practice keeps some care homes from making the leap to more modern solutions.

Innovation requires risk

True innovation comes from daring to be different. It requires an openness to trial and error, and a willingness to accept that not every experiment will succeed. This is where best practice can hold care providers back the most. It’s easy to stick to what’s already proven, but progress requires risk.

Consider new technologies like AI in care. Early adopters are seeing benefits in predictive analytics, time efficiency and personalised care plans, but many care providers hesitate to implement AI because it isn't yet widely recognised (yet) as a best practice. This reluctance to evolve at the head of the curve can mean missing out on cutting-edge solutions that could improve care quality.

Moving beyond comfort

Best practice has its place. It’s certainly better than poor practice, but it can’t be the end goal. It should be a foundation, a starting point from which to build, adapt, and innovate. Care providers need to continuously assess whether their practices are still relevant and effective in a changing environment. Or perhaps if they themselves have a bold idea, it’s having the bravery to at least try.

Care homes need to take a critical look at what they’re doing and ask: Is this the best we can do? If the answer is no, then it’s time to evolve, to take risks, and to push beyond the comfortable boundaries of best practice. Without the blessing of their peers.

Best practice is certainly better than poor practice, but let’s not confuse it with progress. At its core, best practice is often about finding a comfortable way of doing things and sticking to it. It’s rooted in comfort, not innovation. Best practice must always have one eye on tomorrow in this ever-changing world.

Too often, best practice is simply the most widely adopted approach – the path of least resistance that everyone follows. This creates a culture of fear around trying new ideas or approaches, because stepping away from what the majority are doing feels risky. But that risk is where true innovation happens.

In reality, if you’re doing something different – something unique – and calling it best practice, you’re daring to compete against the herd. You’re challenging the norms, not settling for them. True best practice is always evolving – but it’s time for you to decide when that moment is.