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. In the case of Southport, which had previously been part of the Ormskirk Union, there appears to have been no suitable establishment for its council to inherit. Instead, it took over a property known as Lincoln House, on Lincoln Road, Birkdale — possibly the former tuberculosis sanatorium — which was converted to house up to 24 children.

By 1940, the home had moved to new premises known as Cavendish House at Liverpool Road, Woodvale, Southport. In 1944, it occupied premises at 41 Leyland Street, Southport, described a a 'temporary reception house'. By 1946, the reception homes was at Eversley House, 15 Cambridge Road, Southport.

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, Southport 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 the management of Eversley House.

By 1950, a residential nursery had been opened at 69 Albert Road, Southport. By 1952, a second children's home was in use at 53 Scarsbrick New Road, Southport. By 1959, Eversley House and the Scarsbrick New Road homes had been replaced by 37 Links Avenue, Southport. The Albert Road nursery had also been closed by that date. By 1968, an additional children's home had been opened at 27 Cherry Road, Ainsdale. In 1973, the Christina Kirwan Observation and Assessment Centre, also known as Kirwan House, was in operatio on Fleetwood Road, Southport.

As part of the local government reorganisation that took place in 1974, the new Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council took over the provision of children's residential care in an area which encompassed boroughs of Bootle, Southport and Crosby, the districts of Formby and Litherland, and part of West Lancashire. The Sefton Council took over Southport's three children's establishments.