In 1930, following the abolition of the York Poor Law Union, the York 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.

Central Home, Haxby Road, York. © Peter Higginbotham

68 Wigginton Road, York. © Peter Higginbotham

By 1933, 44 East Mount Road had been closed and the Central Home relocated to the former York Girls' Industrial School premises at 84 Lowther Street, known as St Hilda's. The superintendent in 1935 was Miss A.M. Ham. In 1936, it was described as a Receiving Home, with Mrs Jessie James as superintendent. It was referred to as the Central Home in 1942, with Mrs James still in charge. By 1945, Mrs L.K. Baldwin had become superintendent, succeeded in 1947 by Miss A. McGuire.

By 1940, 68 Wigginton Road had been replaced by a home at 4 Feversham Crescent. The Elms was closed at around the same time but re-opened in around 1946. In 1945, a new home was opened at 46 Burton Stone Lane but had closed within a year or two.

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. The council's children's accommodation in 1949 comprised:

Former St Hilda's Home, Lowther Street, York. © Peter Higginbotham

As well as these children's homes, the council also became responsible for a Remand Home at Ashbank House, Shipton Road, Clifton.

By 1950, the council had opened a second residential nursery known as The Glen, on Bull Lane, in the city suburb of Heworth. This was quickly followed by a new home at 103A Danebury Drive, Acomb. In around 1955, the Elms nursery was taken over by the West Riding County Council. In the same year, St Hilda's moved to the former Clifton Holme Approved School premises at Ousecliffe Gardens, Clifton. By 1961, new homes were in operation at 6 Nursery Drive, Acomb, and 249 Kingsway North, York. In 1963, the council-run Stockton Hall Approved School was opened at Stockton-in-the-Forest. Another children's home was opened by 1968 at 9 Ashford Place.

Former St Hilda's Home, Ousecliffe Gardens, York. © Peter Higginbotham

The council's children's establishments in operation in 1968 are listed below.

The Glen Nursery moved to a separate part of the Ousecliffe Gardens site in around 1969.

Following the local government reorganisation that took place in 1974, the borough became a non-metropolitan district in the county of North Yorkshire. Its children's homes were then taken over by the new North Yorkshire County Council.