OBJECTIVE: In child and adolescent psychiatry, home treatment is becoming increasingly important due to limited inpatient care capacities and changing treatment philosophies. This paper examines its effectiveness and safety. METHODS: We did a systematic literature search and summarized the home treatment model characteristics as well as the evidence on its benefits and harms narratively. RESULTS: In the six identified studies, improvements in symptoms were found in both, home and institutionalized treatment. In the long-term, home treatment seems to be slightly superior and involves fewer hospital days. However, a best-practice model cannot be derived from the data available. CONCLUSION: Home treatment can be considered as an alternative to inpatient treatment, but requires coordination with other mental health care elements and further evaluation.