In 1930, the Boards of Guardians, who had administered the poor relief system in England and Wales since 1834, were abolished and their responsibilities were taken over by county and county borough councils. Each council set up a Public Assistance Committee to oversee its new duties, which included the operation of the various children's establishments previously run by the poor law unions in each area. The Darlington Council's Public Assistance Committee took over the Darlington Union's Girls' Home at 107 Eastbourne Road and the boys' home at 70 Falmer Road, also known as the Park View Boys' Home. The girls' home appears to have been closed in about 1935.

Following the passing of the 1948 Children Act, councils were required to provide care services for all needy children in their area, especially those who lacked a normal family home. In common with other local authorities, the council established a new Children's Committee, whose responsibilities had previously been spread across separate Health, Education and Public Assistance Committees. The Committee took over responsibility for the Park View Boys' Home. By 1955, the girls' home at 107 Eastbourne Road was also back in use.

The 1948 Act had recommended that where children needed to be in residential care, they should be in 'family group' homes, which ideally accommodated no more than eight children, or twelve at most. In 1955, the council made its first step in this direction with a mixed 'family group' home known as Firth Moor, at 14 Hopemoor Place on the council's new Firthmoor Estate. By 1967, another was opened at 92 Slater's Lane South, with 107 Eastbourne Road then being closed. These homes were supplemented by the part use of Holmwood Reception Centre and Hollymount Nursery at West Hartlepool. By 1970, another family group home had been opened at 108 Jedburgh Drive, and and girls' hostel at 57 Carmel Road.

Following local government re-organisation in 1974, the running of Darlington's children's homes was taken over by the Durham County Council.