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 East Riding County Council's Public Assistance Committee took over the work previously carried out by eight Poor Law unions, although not all of these had operated their own children's homes. After reviewing the stock of accommodation it had inherited, the council initially began operating with seven homes:

A new home, known as Hartendale, at 27 South Back Lane, Bridlington, was opened in around 1931 and housed 12 children. By 1933, two more new homes had been opened at 13 and 17 Northgate, Cottingham, each housing ten children. The following year, Fair View had been closed. In 1936, a home eleven children was opened at 14 Railway Street, Beverley. Two new homes, Eastholme and Westholme, were opened at Brandesburton in 1937, one for twelve boys, the other for twelve girls. In the same year, Westwood House at Beverley was closed. By 1938, two of the Bridlington homes, Hoggard House and Firthholme, had also closed. In 1934, the homes at 42-43 Victoria Road, Driffield, relocated (or perhaps were renumbered as) 44-45 Victoria Road. Number 44 was assigned to the girls and 45 to the boys, with Northern House being used for infants. Perhaps no longer deemed safe, the homes at Cottingham, located on the outskirts of Hull, had closed in 1942 but were back in use in 1944. The Brandesburton homes, fifteen miles to the north of Hull, also closed in 1942, only re-opening after the war.

In 1947, a new 10-bed home with was in operation at St John's Avenue, Bridlington. There were now also children's hostels at Cardigan Road, Bridlington, and Fulford Lodge, Fulford, near York, each providing 15 places. The council's homes at this date are listed below:

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. In addition to its existing accommodation, a residential nursery with 20 places was opened at Burlington House, Marton Road, Bridlington ‐ part of the former workhouse site.

By 1959, the homes at Brandesburton and Cottingham, those at Driffield except Northern House, and St John's Avenue, Bridlington, had been closed. New homes had been established by that date at St Leonards, The Promenade, Withernsea; Ravenswood, Cliff Road, Hornsea; and Manor Way (Cayley Road), Anlaby. A nursery known as the Parker Home was opened at 21 Marton Road, Bridlington;

Following the local government reorganisation that took place in 1974, the East Riding County Council was abolished, with most of its area being incorporated into the new county of Humberside. The Humberside County Council took over the management of children's homes previously run by the East Riding County Council.

The new county, which also incorporated parts of northern Lincolnshire, proved less than popular with many of its residents. A further reorganisation in 1996, divided the area into a number of separate authorities, including a reseurrected East Riding of Yorkshire.