In 1930, following the abolition of the Middlesbrough Poor Law Union, the Middlesbrough Corporation took over responsibility for the administration of poor relief in the city. This included the children's homes previously run by the union, which now came under the management of the council's new Public Assistance Committee.

The homes initially operated by the council are listed below.

Former Broomlands homes site, Middlesbrough, 2006. © Peter Higginbotham

Very soon, however, Holgate Institution (the former workhouse) ceased to be used for the accommodation of children. By 1935, only the Broomlands homes on Cambridge Road remained in use.

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 Social Welfare Committees. Under the new regime, residential care was seen as the least desirable option for children in care, but when it was employed, the recommended size of home was eight children, or twelve at most.

As well as taking charge of Broomlands, the new Children's Department also gained responsibility for a Remand Home on Farndale Road. In around 1951, a new family group home known as Beechwood was opened at 13 Sanford Close and, in line with the new recommendations, provided accommodation for just ten children. By 1955, this had been followed by the 10-bed Berwick Hills home at 50 Darenth Crescent. By 1959, further family group homes were in operation: Whinney Banks, 40 Whinney Banks Road; Park End, 4 Roxby Avenue; and Thorntree, 6 Greenford Walk. Three additional homes were in operation in 1964: Croft, at 64 Croft Road, and Easterside, at 54 Caversham Road, Easterside.

In 1968, Middlesbrough became part of the new Teesside county borough, which took over the administration of all the city's children's homes.