Location: Who Uses AccessNI? > Lead and Countersignatories 

Lead and Countersignatories

Each Registered Body is required to designate a Lead Signatory as part of the registration process for the organisation, see Part D in the Registration Form

This Lead Signatory will be required to sign the initial application for registration, and will be the primary point of contact for AccessNI.  

Once registered, the Lead Signatory may specify Countersignatories to assist in applying for, and receiving, Disclosure Certificates. The Registration Form should be used for all subsequent applications for Countersignatories.  A charge will be levied for each Countersignatory application.  See service charges

Lead and Countersignatories must also undergo a suitability assessment at the equivalent of an Enhanced Check before they can countersign applications.  However no disclosure certificate will be issued as part of this process.  If a Lead or Countersignatory is considered unsuitable, ANI will simply not register them and will ask the Registered Body to submit an alternative.  There is no appeal but a review of the decision may be requested in writing.

Once an organisation is registered, the Lead Signatory and Countersignatories, will be responsible for managing the whole process.

When processing Applications for Standard and Enhanced Disclosures, Lead or Countersignatories must verify all the information provided by the Applicant, and ensure that access to Disclosure Certificates and the information they contain is managed in accordance with AccessNI’s guidelines.