They will look through your gallery, videos, pictures saved (likely not all of them but just a glance)
Text messages, whatsapp messages, check to see what other apps you have (snapchat for example which you should avoid if given a SHPO)
Depending how good the PPU is with tech, might check more settings parts of your phone, data usage for example, accounts logged into the phone
Will check your internet browsing history, ask which browsers you use as some apps do not save history (duckduckgo)

It really all comes down to the PPU and if they actually know what they are doing, which is rare.
I would recommend before you are given any SHPO or get told to sign the SOR, back up all your important stuff, factory reset the phone and use the bare minimum, make sure all accounts for apps (if they require a name) are in your real name as some PPU can be uptight depending on how a SHPO is worded.
Any name that is not your name make a list and give it when you sign the SOR, if given a SHPO it MAY include a phrase "not to use aliases online" which might cause some issue if not using real name but again, it depends on how uptight the PPU are.
My first PPU had a list of names I used online and he had no problem with me using them, because I had already given them. my second PPU was ok with them at first, but after applying to discharge my SHPO he became adamant to restrict me further to try and set me up to fail forcing me to change my names on google, restricting me from using playstion as I could not change my name on there.

The official guidance says plain clothes officers in an unmarked car. What they look for is up to them, but I'd guess images, videos, chat messages and also browsing history if you don't have monitoring software on a device.

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If you are to punish a man retributively you must injure him. If you are to reform him you must improve him. And men are not improved by injuries. (George Bernard Shaw)

Thank you folks 

With regards to them coming to check my phone etc, what kind of things do they look for? Also will it be plain clothes police? And how often do they visit?

:/ 

You could also try the list of Ban the Box employers, as a few of those are clear that they don't ask at all.

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If you are to punish a man retributively you must injure him. If you are to reform him you must improve him. And men are not improved by injuries. (George Bernard Shaw)

Smaller employers tend to be a better bet than larger ones, because they do not have an HR department. We have seen a lot of examples of people who get through the interview, only to be blocked by HR.

Having a conviction does make looking for work much much harder, limiting what you can apply for but not impossible. My previous work coach at the job center would tell me many stories, he spoke of one individual with an indefinite SOPO / SOR. 20 years in to his conviction he was able to remain in work, I do not recall fully if he mentioned he had the same job for that length of time or if it was a job he got more recently. But he was able to get the SOPO discharged and I believe he is taking steps to get taken off the SOR. And his employer has been a massive support.

It is not uncommon that most employers will (and do) wash hands of those with any kind of conviction. Sometimes it is required depending on the conviction and job role. But on rare occasions there are employers out there who will see past the conviction and only focus on your skills / experience if you can legally work there. (Does not breach the SHPO / SOR)
Remember, despite what police, probation may tell you. If you are not asked about convictions (verbally or in application forms), if the job does not require a DBS check, you do not have to disclose convictions even if unspent.

However, being open and honest might have some benefits as well. It really all comes down to the employer and how understanding they are and willingness to give people chance.

One thing I have been told to consider given my time off work is self employment, I have considered it but I do not feel I have enough experience or skills to go down this path. But perhaps in time, maybe you could?

Im the same, i have no idea what im going to do for work once i have a conviction 

Regards
Kraken

Thank you for the replies folks

For those of you that did lose your jobs,what did you do? I've never not worked and the thought scares me. Did you manage to find work? Is there any roles to specifically look at?

This next bit seems so daunting and bleak :/ 

How do you cope?

Luckily I managed to get my indefinite Sopo removed 9 years ago next week. Before then they did all they could to trip me up, including costing me a different job and I believe trying to arrest me for something (I don't know what) made up an hour or so after my Sopo was removed by the judge.

They didn't as I was on my way to the airport. But I don't think they ever really want rehabilitation, just to keep you in a box.

in my case (a while ago too) on my first home visit (few days after the sentence), they said to me that I didn't need to tell my employer. I never felt more relieved. Also, they never checked my devices

It was quite a while ago for me, but when I was convicted the police told me I had to tell my employers or they would (even though the job I was in the product/service could only be given to adults and the company could only employ adults).

I was lucky nothing ever got promoted but I would have lost my job. I just told the police that I had informed my employers and hoped they would be too lazy to check. Luckily for me they were too lazy to check.

Images are (nowadays) quite often released of offenders, and to my knowledge the release of such images isn't limited only to sentences of 12 months or more.

There is some guidance available to police officers via the college of policing website around the release of custody images, officer BWVC, etc: https://www.college.police.uk/app/engagement-and-communication/media-relations

Generally, my feeling would be that if the media report on a case, they are likely to make a request to the Police for release of the custody image at least - should there be no media interest in the case, the police wouldn't be likely to "self-publish" - although with the prevalence of police forces having "social media teams" and running their own form of media nowadays, I wouldn't rule this out completely.