The Boards of Guardians, who had administered the poor relief system in England and Wales since 1834, were abolished in 1930 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 Lancashire County Council's Public Assistance Committee took over the work previously carried out by around twenty Poor Law authorities. After reviewing the stock of children's accommodation it had inherited, the council initially kept five homes in use. These were at:

The Bury home had been closed by 1934, however.

Former children's home, Quernmore Road, Lancaster, 2001. © Peter Higginbotham

Following the start of the Second World War, the Rawtenstall and Leigh homes were closed. By 1947, a 30-bed home was in operation at Minster Lodge, Ormskirk.

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.

By 1952, new homes had been opened at the Old Vicarage, Bolton-le-Sands; Broad Oak, Sandy Lane, Accrington; 37 Southfield Drive, Westhoughton; Oaklands, Lowton St Marys; Burnthwaite, Lostock, near Bolton; and Bankfield, Ainsworth, near Bolton. Girls' hostels had been opened at 113A Watling Street, Preston, and Neild House, Anson Road, Manchester. At the same date, a boys' hostel was in operation at at Stanifield Road, Farington, near Preston. Residential nurseries had also been established at Rainford Hall, St Helens, and Holly House, Aughton. A reception centre was located at Moorfield, Moorside Road, Swinton. The council now also had responsibility for the Homelea Remand Home at 294 Mosley Common Road, Walkden, near Manchester. The Quernmore Road home at Lancaster was no longer in use.

Further homes were opened during the 1950s, including twenty-four family group homes, each providing around 8 places. The council's children's accommodation in 1959 is listed below.

The stock of children's accommodation continued to grow in the 1960s, with the number of family group homes reaching 43 by 1969. Additional homes of all types in operation by 1969 are listed below:

Following the local government reorganisation that took place in 1974, changes took place in the area administered by Lancashire County Council. As part of that process, some children's homes in the region underwent a change in which council managed them, with the county taking over those previously run by borough councils such as Blackburn, Blackpool and Preston. New homes also continued to be opened and some existing establishments closed. The Lancashire County Council's homes in 1975 were:

By 1983, a decline in the number of children being placed in residential care had led to the closure of some establishments including the long-standing home at Minster Lodge, Ormskirk. A rare opening during this period was a family group home at 4 Larches Avenue, Preston.